Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-11
CITIZENS TOULOUSE
ACADEMY CADETS
Homes Offered to Replace
Randolph Macon Barracks
Until End of Year.

By staff Correspondent of The star
FRONT ROYAL. Va, January IL
Students of Randolph. Macon Academy
here were adjusting themselves today
after an ordeal by fire early yesterday
morning which destroyed the main
building Of the school and caused in
juries to 10 of their number, OF
whom were taken to Winchester Me
mortal Hospital.
Hospital authorities stated this
morning that the injured cadets were
doing nicely" and were not believed
to be In a serious condition. Those at
the hospital are: Frank Whalen, Lyon
Village, Va. broken heel and com
pound fracture of the leg; Henry
Weaver. 1886 Ingrah ham street, left
ankle broken: Jack Johnston, New
York, leg broken: Kenneth Giles, Hol-
Inns, \. Y. burned on face and arms,
and Joachim Navas of Nicaragua, in
jured face and broken wrist.
Other students who were only slight
~ hurt are being taken care of at the
hotel here. The cadets are today be-
ing assigned To private homes here.
where they will be cared for until the
close of the school session in June.
Cadets Once Saved Town.
Citizens of this community are
eager to show their appreciation of
the work of the cadet corps five years
ago, when it saved the town from
destruction by fire by dammng the
waters of Happy Creek, affording fire
men from nearby places IA supply of
water with which 70 fight the flames.
The boys have been welcomed into
their homes. At Il citizens mass
meeting yesterday William T.. Car
son, chairman of the meeting, re-
ceived the names of 275 volunteers
who offered to take from four 10
eight boys in their homes.
School authorities are today billet
ing the boys in the various homes.
two boys going to a household. An
assembly of students was held this
morning and the boys were praised
for the orderly manner in which they
have conducted themselves since the
catastrophe.
Military Supplies offered.
Brig. Gen. Gardner :. Waller. com.
handing the 9lSt Division, Virginia
National Guard informed DR. Charles
l.. Melton. principal of the academy,
who is recovering from the effects of
smoke and heat sustained when he
aided in rescue work. that the military
department at Richmond had made
available cots, blankets and other
military supplies and would ship them
to the corps as needed. Gen. Waller
was in communication with Adit. Gen.
w. w. Sale at Richmond, who ex-
pressed his desire to cooperate in
every way with the school authorities.
In the meantime preparations are
underway to hold classes in temporary
quarters until new building is
erected. \ meeting of the school
trustees will be held at Ashland Thurs
day to prepare plans for immediate
construction of a new building.
Leading Front Royal citizens indi
Gated today that they expected to take
a prominent part in financing the new
structure, which, they say. will be
bigger and better" than the $3.50 900
combination barracks and classroom
building now reduced to tottering
walls and still warm ashes.
Will Appeal to Alumni.
An appeal will be made also, it was
indicated, to the alumni of the school,
which numbers about $500 men, many
of them officers in the United States
Army.
Some of the boys returned to their
homes for new outfits of clothes to-
day but the majority of the students
are being QUILTED in the town. AL
though they lost virtually all of their
clothing, consisting mainly OF military
uniforms, many of them have sent
home for their civilian attire which
was awaiting their return on Summer
vacation.
The student body includes a number
of sons of Methodist missionaries and
reassuring cablegrams were sent yes
terday informing the distant parents
that their sons were unframed.
Fire Escapes Cut OF.
Accounts of the fire vary but all
unite in praise in the heroism of the
boys who looked out for each other
rather than running blindly from the
burning building. Some students stat
ed that the windows leading to the fire
escapes had been nailed down to pre-
vent pranks after the taps" and some
denied this. but all agreed that escape
by way of the fire escapes was impoS-
sible, since the flames were bursting
from the burning buildings and liter
ally covering the steel ladders.
Lodge halls. public halls and
churches have been placed at the dis
poSal of the academy authorities and
it is planned TO hold classes at these
places. Daily assemblies will be held
and the routine Of the school will go
on with as little disruption as possible.
Citizens here are still talking of the
record run of the Winchester Fire De
partment, which covered 20 miles over
rough and icy roads in rs minutes
Companies came also from Strasburg
and Berryville, but the flames gained
Roadway SO rapidly that firemen could
do little save assist in rescue work.