THE COCOANUT GROVE FIRE: On this day in 1942, in Boston Massachusetts, the Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire killed 492 Thanksgiving weekend revelers. Yes, that’s four hundred and ninety-two.

Nightclub fires with horrific death counts have occurred throughout the world, but I am aware of none worse than the Cocoanut Grove fire. The only usable street exit was a revolving door. The crowd quickly pressed up against that door so no one could escape. Some of those who did escape the fast-moving flames somehow climbed up onto the roof and jumped down on parked cars. Others escaped through kitchen windows and doors.

I wish I could report to you a few hero stories. As Instapundit readers may have noticed, I like hero stories. But as one survivor put it, “… I looked back at the dance floor. People were fighting to get out of the club. Pandemonium is the only word I can think of, and I must say the scene did no credit to the male sex.” (Ah … the 1940s, when masculinity was still measured the old-fashioned way.)

I did find one apparently unverified story, and there are likely others that I missed (or, sadly, that everyone missed because the individuals involved didn’t live to tell the story):

Joseph Lawrence Ford, a second-class petty officer in the Navy, stationed at Portsmouth, N.H., said he entered the burning building by breaking a window and jumping inside. He added: “I crawled along on my hands and knees and then I bumped into five forms. All were moaning and some were twisting around on the floor, clawing at their throats.”

An AP reporter wrote that Ford reported that he rescued three women and two men.  (Note that the fact that the story is unverified does not mean it isn’t true.  It’s not so easy to verify this kind of thing.)

Anyway, if you’re looking for something to be thankful for, you can start with being thankful you weren’t at the Cocoanut Grove fire.  And for those of you (like me) who have never had your mettle tested in a sudden emergency, be thankful for that too.

UPDATE:  A reader supplies us with more hero stories:

From “The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II” by Robert J. Cressman:

November 28, Sat.

United States

“Cocoanut Grove” nightclub in Boston, Massachusetts, catches fire;
Ensigns George W. Carlson and Mac A. Cason, SC-V(P), USNR, driving
through the city at that hour, respond immediately when they see flames
issuing from the burning building. Exhibiting courage, leadership and
resourcefulness, these two Supply Corps officers, who organize rescue
parties from enlisted men they see in the gathering crowd, are later
deemed “the cause of saving more lives than any other single agency.”
Despite rescuers’ efforts, however, 492 people perish in the tragedy.

In the military, officers of all services and specialties are supposed to show initiative and lead. Enlisted personnel are suppose to intelligently respond to orders and work as a team to carry out the mission.

John Nisley, USN (Ret.), 1974-1994

Well done, Ensigns Carlson and Cason and CPO Ford.