The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-08
TWO FINE YOUTHS
BURNED TO DEATH
j. Clements Knox, Jr., and
B. Agnew McNeale.
LOST IN BURNING SCHOOL
Overcome by the Smoke and DID
Not Get Out.
JUMPED FROM The WINDOWS
The Remains of the Two Boys Recov-
cred from the Ruins and Their Po-
si,ions Tc!d Muteiy of the Man
ner in Which They Lost
Their Lives-Both Pop
:. ular Young Fellows.
JUMPED FROM The WINDOWS
1snecinl nisnatch 10 The Times.l

Especial Dispatch 10 The Timeso
CHAELOTTESNILLE, VA, May q
As a result of a fire that broke out this
morning at ) O'Clock, Browns Univer-
i sity School lies In ashes ard the earthly
remains of young p. Agnew McNeale, OF
Washington, D. c., and j. c. knox, Jr-.
of Richmond. are but handfuls of ashes.
The origin of the fire is unknown
The first alarm was given by young
McNeale. according TO the young man
who roonled next to him. He was heard
to cry, Fire then ran to the hall ana
pounded on the door next to his. The
hallwavs were in flames. exit was cut
off from that direction and the seventeen
inmates Of the dwelling rushed to the
windows After waking his schoolmaies
young McNeaIe evidently returned 10
help his roommate, ard was asphyHlaleu
in the passage
THE ALARM
Mr.. ]. Thompson Brown, Jr-, the prln-
cipal. was aroused by the first boys out
those who occupied the lower floor On
this floor were the two schooiTooms, three
bedrooms and TWO bathrooms, ana un
delYeatf WAS the cellar. The three hed-
rooms on the lower floor We're occupied
by Mr. Randolph T. Mason, Of Richmond.
a teacher, and Messrs. Cecil DabneY, OF
this citys Randolph Cooke, OF Nortolk,
Douglas Powers, OF Baltimore, ana
Ernest Nathans. of Charleston, 3 =.
These gentlemen were awakened ny lhS
cracking of The flames. being too lar
from Mr.. McNeale's room 10 hear his cry
Thev opened the doors leading 10 the
nall but found exit there cut off, names
rushing into their rooms. The low WIN
dows allowed them TO reach the ground
safely and alarm the principal.
Mr.. Brown found the danes shootns
IN from the south end Of the building.
smoke and tongues Of fiame We're CURING
IN from the caves of the house.
THE BOYS JUMPED.
From the nine bedrooms on the sec
.nd floor. each of which had two win
dons and a door, We're jumping the nine
,-ol,nf men who occupied these rooms.
.Thev are Messrs II. c. Maddux. of
Grange. G; Pickett stokes. of Richmond;
Arthur Stevens. OF Lynchhurg; Taylor
willis. of GoTdonsville: Hubbard Lloyd,
cf Lxnrhhurg: Duval Brown. of AIRING
ION: Ewing Lawson, Of Tazewell county;
I-.nperh Hendricks, Of Washinaton. D.
C. and Everett Waddey, lr,, OF klch-
rac1,d In addition TO these We're the two
~, fortunate boys whose lives We're lost
They occupied the south room on the lei
oi The hail under which was the bath
room. where the FIRE is thought 10 have
originated.
The laborers on the place were throwing
rocks against the walls to arouse any
enc who might be sleeping. Mr. Brown
Immediately endeavored to lind II ali the
19,.,1Iis were out of the building
Nlr. John Preston Sheffey, one of the
teachers. was the first found missing.
He. occupied the south room on the right
Of the hall, across from that belonging
TO McNeale and knox. The principal ran
10 the south side of the School-nouse.
that side facing the city, and saw Mr..
Shefey leave his room by the window
mat opened on the porch The teacher
1l1er. ciawled over the porch railing and
attempted to swing down from the upper
rorch floor and then drop 10 the ground.
The tin that lined the edge of the porch.
however. was red hot from the 1ierceiy
putring fire. and burned his hands so
That he involuntaIily let loose his hold
mac. fell TO the ground. When picked up
ne was unconscious from the intense heat
.r6 smoke He was considerahly burned
on his face. arms and legs and slightly
la.1t by his fail. but is improving rap
idly to-day His condition is not at all
serious.
THE FATALITIES.
L, was after Mr.. Shefey's fortunate
escape, due entirely to his coolness ana
risnlay of nerve IN the face of great dan
ger. that McNeale and Knox, room7mates.
we're missed. Nothing could be done for.
item and nothing was seen or heard of
Them. II is believed that both We're over
come by smoke and flames. and mat the
latter persisted IN his room ana tfle iot-
ner in the hall.
The school building was in burning
runs in less than thirty minutes from
.he time the fire was discovered. Moth
ing was saved except two trunks and
one bed mattress from The lower floor.
The building was frame and burned IKE
tinder The total loss OF property VIII
reach 5000. and is but partly covered
by insurance
In speaking of the deporable accident
this morning Mr.. Brown said that he
could not account for it There We're
absolutely no lights in the school-honse
after 10 o'clock yesterday evening, there
had been no fires for several days, there
were no electric wires and the electrical
storm of the evening occurred fully three
hours before the fire. He believes the
Are TO haze originated in the bathroom
Immediately below The room occupied
by McNeale and Knox, or in the cellar
Immediately beneath the bathroom.
Mr.. Brown said that the session will
be completed in some suitable house in
The vicinity. and the destroyed school
house be rebuff; before next session.
LOST EVERYTHING.
On the porch of the principals resi-
fence Wore gathered the thirteen remain-
sng pupils of the school--two were dead:
nne. Nrcliffe Scott. is at his home in
voldonsviile Ill with pneumonia, and an
sther. Landon r. Mason, is at his home
u, Richmond, having Withdrawn from
school a few DAYS ago. The group was
rather ricturesquely attired But two
had saved any clothing except that in
which they slept.
While this group may have been
thought the humorous side of the story,