Posted by Chris, Jason on July 26, 1999 at 03:03:14:
By JOHN KEKIS
Associated Press Writer
Torching tents and trailers
AP/Stephen Chernin [18K]
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ROME, N.Y. (AP) — After almost 72 hours of peace and love, Woodstock '99 ended in blazing chaos Sunday night as hundreds of concertgoers turned into vandals, starting fires and looting.
What began as scattered bonfires toward the end of the Red Hot Chili Peppers festival-closing set escalated into several major infernos. About a quarter mile from the main stage, several concertgoers set fire to 12 parked tractor trailers, pulling cases of soda and merchandise from the trucks even as they fed the flames with debris.
Others toppled concert light stands and speaker towers, while another group tried to destroy a radio station truck. All around, tents and booths were destroyed.
State troopers in riot gear moved in to protect other vendors' booths. County deputies and city police were deployed to protect other areas of the former Griffiss Air Force Base, now a business and technology park.
``Where are the police? Where are the firemen? Where are the people in control?'' asked Ruth Mahorn, 36, of Binghamton, as she walked quickly away from the disturbance with her friends. ``These kids are animals. It should never have gotten this far.''
No information was available on whether there were any injuries as a result of the fires. Woodstock officials were not immediately available for comment.
Earlier in the day, many campers were already pulling up stakes and stashing gear in their cars Sunday morning in hopes of making a quick getaway once their favorite band finished up, but it didn't look promising.
``We all have got to work in the morning,'' said Mara Kugler of Baldwin, N.Y., a sleeping bag tucked under her arm. ``It's been a long week, but worth it.''
State police said that by late afternoon more than 70,000 people had departed with few delays. The exodus was expected to take up to a day since more than 225,000 packed the site.
By afternoon, the New York State Thruway was full with concertgoers, but traffic was moving at a steady clip. Rest areas along the Thruway were jammed, and police were directing traffic through rest area parking lots.
Slightly over 100 people decided early Sunday that stripping was better than grabbing an extra hour or two of sleep and turned out for a massive nude photo shoot as a brilliant orange sun began to light up the sky. Flyers announcing the escapade were circulated over the weekend by photographer Spencer Tunick, who is well known for his photos of nudes in public places.
``I just want to see the expressions that the photos could bring for decades to come,'' said Sarah Warner of Allston, Mass. ``Picture your kid going, 'Grandma, was that you? You were hot!'''
Things turned somewhat ugly in the mosh pit Saturday night while Limp Bizkit was playing. A mob of more than 200 threw bottles, smashed a barricade and nearly trampled sound system components. One woman suffered a serious head cut from a thrown bottle.
Away from the two mammoth stages, a man carrying $16,000 in cash was arrested Saturday in the campground for selling psychedelic mushrooms, state trooper Jim Simpson said. The arrest was one of 31 made at the festival, troopers said.