A MIDNIGHT “RAG”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19358, 13 July 1925, Page 8

A MIDNIGHT “RAG”

“BOMBS'’ AT THE Y.M.C.A. A BOARDER BATHED. At 2 o’clock on Sunday morning some SO young men wore sleeping peacefully at the Y.M.C.A., Dunedin, after their activities of the previous day. But mischief was afoot. Suddenly their pleasant dreams were rudely shattered by a terrifying ex plosion, followed closely by another equally nerve-wracking report. Barely had the reverberations of the second explosion died away before cries of help roused any that might still have been sleeping. Visions of violence or memories of murders flashed through the minds of the half-wakened sleepers, and some of them frantically searched for a suitable weapon to repel the expected night attack. There was a rush of pyjama-clad figures to where the cries for help were still coming, but, by the time they arrived. they found an official of the institution bewailing the escape of two malefactors whom he had seized. Further search discovered a gagged victim, clad in pyjamas, taking an unpremeditated early bath. First-aid was rendered by follow residents, and he was helped back to bed. Another official, who had just succeeded in breaking out of his room, * ' >nr of which had been barricaded, joined the bewildered band. “1 heard . <■. at ip,' ' he said, ‘ 4 but had difii- •’ ’•• •Hing out of my room. What could I do!’’ he concluded plaintively. Ilc ihen despatched several youths to unions parts of the. building, to obtain light, and to search the roof and other less-frequented portions of the. building. At. this moment a constable arrived on the scene. Being assured that the alarm was not of a tragic nature, although from the street it may have, appeared so, he led a search for the deepdyed villains in the plot. There still being no light available the few remaining in bed raised startled faces to

the beam from the constable’s torch. Insistent demands for asistance led to the discovery of another official oi the institution secured in his room, the lock of his door having been dealt with efficiently. In desperation he »vns about to attempt escape through the fanlight, when the crowd arrived and released him. His first action was to call the roll. Every man was a--counted for except one; but expccta tions in this direction were disappointed, as this man was away for the week-end. The search was continued from room to room, disarranged beds bearing elo quent testimony to the hurried departures of their respective occupants The search proved fruitless, however, a> the conspirators had successfully removed all trace of their handiwe’k in the shape of two bombs, and no water was found in any of the room by which they might have been traced. The disappointed constable lioa’l • departed without having solved the mystery. The keen morning air having created appetites among the searchers, someone suggested an adjournment to the pie

cart. The cry was unanimously sup--1 ported, and 30 young fellows lashed i back to their rooms for overcoats and * shoes. A minute later a stream <f i figures with overcoats over their s pyjamas streamed from the side en- * franco and followed their leader in the I direction of the pie-vendor’s stall)A ) while the officers of the institution, ■ having by this time realised that prac- - tica! jokers had been at work, returned quietly, though perhaps not very ? amicably, to bed.—Otago Daily Timos.