Woodstock ’99 Ends With Blaze, Looting

After almost 72 hours of peace and love, Woodstock ’99 ended in blazing chaos as hundreds of concertgoers in Rome, N.Y., 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 and destroyed tents and booths. State troopers in riot gear, sheriff’s deputies and city police were deployed. No information was available on whether there were any injuries.