June 18, 1994

The first day of a strike by Long Island Rail Road workers proved a surprisingly easy ride, as thousands of commuters found alternative routes to work relatively free of congestion or, fearing a day of gridlock on the roads and in the New York City transit system, chose to stay home. The walkout, the sixth to shut the nation's busiest commuter rail line since 1960, came as negotiators for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which oversees the railroad, and the United Transportation Union failed to reach agreement after days of intensive contract talks.

Last month, with a loaded gun at his head and two convicted killers leading the way, Robert Kamrowski seemed the very picture of a hostage as the two men escaped from the Mid-Hudson Psychiatric Center, touching off a weeklong manhunt. But today, the Orange County District Attorney's office charged that Mr. Kamrowski's role was a ruse. Mr. Kamrowski, 46, a former State Police lieutenant who was working as a hospital aide, was arrested and indicted on eight counts, including providing the gun to the killers.

Across six months in office, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani has had a strained relationship with gay-rights advocates, parting ways with them on a range of issues from his long refusal to condemn a supporter who spoke out against the Gay Games to his decision to march in the St. Patrick's Day parade despite the exclusion of a group of homosexual marchers. But tonight at a Columbia University stadium, Mr. Giuliani is scheduled to deliver a formal welcoming speech at the Gay Games. The Mayor's aides helped pave the way for closing ceremonies to be held at Yankee Stadium. And an interview with Mr. Giuliani is featured on the cover of the current issue of The Advocate, which describes itself as the national gay and lesbian news magazine.

Stiff Sentences in Cult Siege A judge sentenced five members of the Branch Davidian sect to 40 years in prison for their roles in a shoot-out last year near Waco, Tex. Page 8. Death Sentence Voided The Supreme Court said prosecutors must tell of the existence of an alternate sentence of life without parole in seeking a death penalty. Page 13. Knicks Need One More The Knicks defeated the Rockets, 91-84, to take a 3-2 lead in the N.B.A. finals, and can win the title in Game 6 at Houston Sunday. Page 29.

North Korea's latest offer to resolve the crisis over its nuclear program appears to include little that is new, but President Clinton's willingness to seize it as an opportunity to avoid a confrontation reflects an abrupt shift of policy. The change says less about the prospects for a diplomatic resolution than it does about the Administration's apprehensions over a showdown and its difficulties in marshaling an international coalition for tough sanctions.

The police today charged O. J. Simpson with murdering his former wife and a friend of hers, then pursued him for about 50 miles along Southern California highways this evening before he finally surrendered outside his home here, ending a long day on the run. The extraordinary pursuit, broadcast to the nation by the television networks, developed about six hours after Mr. Simpson suddenly vanished instead of surrendering to the authorities at midday as his lawyer had arranged.

By the end of the 1970's, after the Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation had gone through a decade of negative research results and inconclusive attempts to develop a safer cigarette, a senior lawyer for the company recommended that much of its medical research be declared "deadwood" and shipped to its affiliate in England. "No notes, memos or lists" of the material should be made, the lawyer wrote. Among the documents to be removed were the results of Project Janus, a series of more than 40 separate experiments on the biological effects of cigarette smoke, which had succeeded in isolating some of the hazardous components of smoke.

International 2-7 AVOIDING A KOREAN SHOWDOWN News analysis: North Korea's latest offer to resolve the crisis over its nuclear program appears to contain little that is new. But President Clinton's willingness to seize on it as an opportunity suggests that the Administration is deeply apprehensive about a showdown. 1

"Now it's official. The curse is broken." MAYOR RUDOLPH W. GIULIANI -- at the victory parade for the Rangers. [ 28:2. ]

A brief report in Business Day yesterday about the stock performance of American Power Conversion misstated Paine Webber's investment recommendation on the company's shares. Paine Webber raised its assessment of American Power's stock to "buy" from "neutral," not from "attractive."

An article yesterday about Yasir Arafat's delay in going to Jericho to assume formal control of Palestinian self-rule there and in the Gaza Strip reversed the dates on which two Arafat deputies were killed. Khalil al-Wazir was killed in 1988 and Salah Khalaf in 1991.

An article by Reuters yesterday about the release of some Palestinian prisoners referred incorrectly to Nahal Oz, the border point to which they were delivered by Israel. It is in Israel, not in the Gaza Strip.