The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-03-18

rel Fork road. There Will be 10
school in Madison today.
Another small group of Bun
combe children from the Swan
nanoa school remained in Black
Mountain last night because their
bus could not get through over
its route.
School buses were halted by
drifts sometimes waist high on
the roads. With communication
difficult, Supt. Robertson said late
last night he believed no children
were marooned in buses, although
one bus from Valley Springs
school was reported stalled on
the Christ School road. Mr.. Rob-
crson said that he was Informed
that there were no children in the
bus, however. 49,.
First serious school situation
was reported from the West Bun
combc school although soon after
closing hour, Superintendent Rob-
erson began to receive reports
from all over the county that the
buses were having extreme diff
Guilty. in getting through.
Mr. Robertson Immediately sent
out word to all principals to close
the schools. ...,
Then came news that one of
the West Buncombe school buses,
driven by Arthur Fore, was halt
ed by a drift near Rhodes dairy
farm on the County Home road
and that the 40 children had
walked to the dairy farm.
Mr.. Robertson. at once appealed
to Sheriff Brown and Capt. Cecil
Pryor of the rural police for aid,
and sheriff of Buncombe county
deputies, Tom X. Brown and
Ralph Sluder, and Patrolman Jack
Winslow of rural police left in
cars about o'clock to get the
children out. IT,. H..
They had to battle their cars
through drifts continually grow
ing higher, and when they reach
ed the dairy farm, some OF the
children had already been. taken
home in private cars. They tried
to take some Others home, but
found this anfeasiblc:
They also learned that about
10 children had been marooncd
in West Buncombc school. The
other two buses of the school, at
ter completing two trips to take
children home, were unable to
make their third trips. One of
them started for the scene near
the Rhodes dairy farm to get the
children there, but was halted by
a drift on the way. ,
Meanwhile some of the 10 chill
dren at the school were :; taken
home by parents or neighbors in
their cars, who managed to get
through, or walked home with
friends living nearby. -
1t was we'll after dark yester-
day when the officers caravan of
cars arrived at the courthouse in
Asheville with their first contin-
gent of &c. children from. West
Buncombe, some from the bus,
and some from the school house.
At about $50 o'clock they
brought in % more from the
schoolhouse. Miss Sue Black and
Miss Edwards, teachers, came
with this group. ggS -
Meanwhile the news from the
Valley Springs school and from
Arden negro school became dis
turbing. At first Mr.; Robertson mad
been led to believe that all the
Valley Springs children had reach
ed their homes before, the biz
card halted the, buses, Il but at
nightfall, it was learned that 70
children were, still at the. school
and. reports were that sthe road
leading to the school was virtual
ly impossible. - -.
A negro bus driver for the Ar
den school called in. and reported
that he had been compelled TO
turn his bus back and that from
so to 60 children wets at the
schoolhouse.
Mr.. Robertson and Captain Pry-
or at once began to make prep
arations to send food to two
schools. School Business Manager
]. P. Brown was sent with Thomas
johnson, school board Mechanic,
tn trv and yet through