The San Francisco call., 1897-05-09
BURNED THEIR
SACRED PAPERS
Class Day Exercises at the
State University Cut
Short.
Will of the Great High Priest
Catches Fire and Is Totally
Destroyed.
in the Attempt to Put Out the Flames
Cupid Pick Is Seriously
Burned.

BERKELEY, CAL, May Sin cloud
of noke went up the will of the senior
dispensator at the class day exercises of
The State University this afternoon, and
as a result the performance, to witness
which 5000 people had gathered was an
almost com plete failure. Cupid" Peck,
member of the graduating class, upon
whom the burlesque sacred rites of the
high priest were about TO be conferred.
was seriously burned about the hands and
face, his fiimsy linen gown having caught
fire from the incense at the altar.
What was probably the largest crowd
that ever gathered at the State University
to witness the farcical performance OF the
seniors had scarcely become interested In
the exercises when the flames from the
altar of the high priest ignited the light
bunting which was draped about the
speakers stand, and before it could be ex.
tinguished destroyed almost complete
the decorations, beside burning the docu-
ment the reading of which would have
furnished the central feature OF the alter
noon S amusement.
The will con aimed the names of every
mem Der OF the class, with few lines of
rhyme on each, setting forth one or more
of his idiscy and bequeathlng to
him some memento, such as bottle OF
soothing syrup, box OF hairpins, cake
of soap, a razor or some other trlnke
cha racterstic of his nature.
The in roducroly performance, consist
ing OF mock AZtec funeral march and a
few songs and local hits, had just taken
pace when the fire started. The spread
ing of the flames, which was accelerated
by gust OF wind, caused temporary
panic among the audience seated about
in the natural amphltheaier, and during
the attendan. furry among the rerform-
ers the precious papers We're destroyed.
The classmen could do but little to put
out he fire, for fear that In the attempt
their Light and inhammable garments
would ignite.
The university police and some of the
spectators rushed TO the scene and with
their coats and clubs beat out the blaze on
one side Of the stand. No sooner had
they finished in one place, when the
flames broke out in another. 1t was dur
ing he progress OF the latter fire that the
will was destroyed and Peck was burned.
Priest Z. 0. Allen tod the audience that
the document had been destroyed, and
the performance could not 60 on. Then
The Dig crowd dispersed.
The morning exercises which consisted
principally OF a pilgrimage of the campus
and speeches delivered from the various
buildings went off smoothly. nothing of
note having arisen 10 mar the pleasure of
the occasion.
The concert under the oaks was the first
feature Of The day. The music was by the
Prrsidio band and attracted a large as
semblage. The weather was perfect and
the colegians and vi i,ors enjoyed them
selves on the grass beneath tue ok trees
that have made the University grounds
famous for beauty.
At IL O'Clock the young men and women
of 81 formed in liue, preceded by the
band. and began their C ass pilgrimage to
say fareweils 20 the buildings in which
they have won their diplomas. The
young men wore white duck trousers and
black plug hats according to programme,
but the co-eds marched with a great
diversity of colors.
The agricultural building, where George
F. Reinhardt said the words OF parting,
was next visited. Reinhardt stood on the
ruins and addressed his auditors through
charrtd opening in the wall of the build
ing. Fred Magee spoke at the library,
Robert Easton at the chemistry building
and W. Z. Cole at the college of mining.
On the Steps of the chemistry building
short programme OF humorous expert
ments was carried out.
a. W. Ransome, football captain of last