BOYS ESCAPE FROM A BLAZING SCHOOL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18046, 5 January 1927, Page 8

BOYS ESCAPE FROM A BLAZING SCHOOL.

FINE DISCIPLINE IN THE FACE OF DANGER.

(Special to the “Star.”) LONDON, November 19. There were .exciting scenes at a fire early yesterday at Baswich House Preparatory School for Boys, near Stafford. The 28 boarders and several servants, clad only in their night attire, had to be hurriedly removed from the blazing building. Mr George Osborn, the principal, who made a plucky attempt to chc.k the flames with a fire extinguisher, had a narrow escape of being trapped. He was overcome by the smoke, but made his way into the corridor, where he collapsed. He had to be assisted from the building. Mrs Osborn was aroused about two o’clock by the smell of burning, and awoke her husband. He descended to the ground floor, and found a classroom in the east wing blazing furiously. In rooms immediately above, two masters, three boys and the domestic staff were sleeping. The alarm was raised, and while Mr Osborn tried to subdue the flames other members of the staff conducted the boarders to a place of safety. This was accomplished without the slightest panic, the boys walking calmly along the corridors and down the stairs to the front entrance. They were taken to adjoining houses for the night. One master, Mr Brant, escaped in pyjamas and dressing-gown, all liis other belongings being destroyed. The Stafford Fire Brigade succeeded in preventing the fire from spreading, but the cast wing was practically gutted.