FIRE AT SCHOOL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 66, 19 March 1925, Page 8

FIRE AT SCHOOL.

BOYS' HURRIED EXIT. ; MYSTERIOUS OUTBREAK. M MELBOURNE, March 12. ! y Cuthbertson House, one of the maiu n residential sections of the UeelongOhurclL g of England Grammar School, was come pletely destroyed by lire at an early a hour this morning, j At the time of the outbreak, shortly 4 before 1 a.m., 78 boys were sleeping in. j the dormitories in the building. AIL a ' escaped, the only mishap reported bein°j a sprained ankle, which was sustained 5 by one of the boys in the crush on the stairway. Most of the boys' belonging r and personal effects, however, were 3 burnt, and many escaped with only their j night attire. !; J The flames appear to have gained a. n hold on the building before they were ~ i noticed and the alarm given. Une" of the r j boys "was awakened by the proximity a of flames to a nearby window, and i. j -within a few minutes the dormitories r I were alive with lads making a hurried a j and frightened exit. 3 j Although the walls of the buildup f J were of brick the flooring and supports f i were of wood, and the whole interior >.| caved in. sending up a cloud of sparks. i The residence of the Rev. .T. H. Allen, !. adjoining, was saved with difficulty, and c the other buildings escaped. 11 The captain of the house paid a 1 tribute to the behaviour of the boys, which, he said, was splendid. They left I the building, as orderh- as possible. i, Cuthbertson House was a dignified ■. lpile with three gables towering high and i j facing the oval. Spacious halls ran bef tween the dormitories, which occupied t the whole of the first floor. Only one s classroom was in the block. a The cause of the fire is a mystery. i The damage is estimated at £15,oob! , The insurances were not disclosed. The i council of the college met this afternoon, f and arrangements for accommodatioa i were made.