The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-07
PANIC IN THE SCHOOL.
SOME ONT CRIED FIRE! AND THAT
STARTED THE WHOLE THING.
The Pupils Fell over One Another PcII
Nell. and fire Alarm Was sent In.
No One Was Seriously Hurt.

panic prevailed among the children a;
l,iSh-S;roct School building at the cor
ner OF First and Leigh streets. yesterday
about 1890 o'clock. and for a while ex-
element ran high The whole affair
started over a very trivial circumstance.
but before matters could bee Quicied down
II looked much - II serious results would
be the outcnmo
From ono Of the scholars tho details
were secDfcc. and the facts. so far as
oIthihca, ncfe about these. one OF the
Chhdicn on the third floor OF the build
INK. who suffers with heart-discase. short
ntss OF breath. or something Of the kind,
round diNyuliy IN catching his breath.
lie ran up 10 his teacher beating his sides
IN al effort 70 come 10 himself. and cried
out 10 her that ne could not get his
breath This created considerable excite
meut, ana in the shuttle one OF the pupils
rcicamed Fire. Had homh-shell been
tossed into the educational camp 70 corld
not have stirred up things more com
plcteiy.
a GENERAL. SCRAMBLE.
There was a moment OF extreme quiet,
ana ihcu al 40 once there was general
scramble. children scattered In every di-
Iecuon. ana the alarm spread Ike Wild
IRE throughout the building. 4 rush Tor
the doors was made, and everybody eH-
cept mo teachers commenced 10 hustle.
some went through doors. and others
through the windows on the lower h0ors,
while 81 Few flew 10 The ire-escdpcs. Con-
fusion rcigncd supreme. and there was no
such thing Ak bringing the young people
20 their senses. IN some cases they
crowded am over ono another, ana al one
time A. looked as Dr. somebody would get
hurt I'm the shuttle. Efforts on the part or
teachers 10 paofy matters had little ef-
feet and the large number of children
commenced 20 swarm pell-mell through
the exits.
FIRE-ALARM TURNED IN.
To make matters worse some ono went
10 the nre-alHrm station. No. ~. ht inc
corner Of Second and Leigh streets, and
cent In AN alarm. but the occasion Tor
the department proved 10 bc grOundlcss.
Some citizen tclcphoned 10 Supcrintend-
ent ThompsOn's firc-alafm Office that he
thought there was nrc at Leigh-Sireet
School and if reel was sent there u
could be put out quickly. lie was prompt
Is told not 10 take any such chances n
20 turn I'm an alarm. and II was turned
fn There is "a private box at this school
house. but no alarm came from it,
40 ONE SERIOUSLY HURT
n took quite q while 20 get things set
tied. and There was very little profitable
work done during the rest OF the day.
The younger pupils all had their minds on
the excitement. and were worked mp 10
high pitch Finally the teachers prevail
Cd upon the pupils 10 get back TO their
desks and pay attention TO their dulles.
~ was learned after the excitement was
over that no one was seriously hurt.
Some few received bruises and scratches.
but nothing 10 speak OF. There WAS. how
ever. no hard mental work done during
the rest Of the day. An effort was made
hy the principal 10 ascertain who was
tho pupil who first cried Fire and who
turned in the alarm. The information
was not forthcoming, however.