the valley towardsthe school.Mr.Viljoen then wentto park hiscar attheswimming bath which he thought would be a safer place. When he returned tosurvey the fire it had almost reached Junior House and he went to sound the alarm.In the meantime someone else had rung the school bell and a number of boys were awake and running to the scene of the fire. This woke a couple of boys in my dorm,and it was their talking at the window which woke me up. I then went to look out of the window and at the same time Mr.Nel was telling some people in the road below to get back to bed.Just then Mr. Viljoen came running up, shouting "Get them up!" Well,we didn't wait to be told. I changed into shorts,shirt,jersey and rugby boots and ran off to the scene of the fire, grabbing a leafy branch as I went. When I reached the scene ofthe fire, it had jumped the road from Junior House(which it had just missed) to the Methodist Youth Camp. Our immediate goal was to prevent the fire burning the Camp down. After the immediate danger was over I went to help control a fire break which was being burnt alongside Mr. Sage's residence (which he had, incidentally, already vacated at the first threat of the fire). As everything was under control there,I went back to fight the fire near the Youth Camp. Mr.Fish and Mr.Storm were in charge ofone party which actually saved the Youth Camp,and I was in a small party under the control of Mr. Metcalf Senior, which prevented the fire from reaching another house. The fire did, however,reach a plantation of pines nearby but some native fire fighters soon had everything under control in that direction. Our party then went back to the Youth Camp to have a drink of water and rest. While we were there we noticed quite a glow from the valley. The fire was going to make a second assault on the school. Reinforcements were then sent to the existing force which was trying to control the fire. I spent about half an hour half-way down a precipitous slope helping to fight the fire. Eventually,at quarter to twelve we had the fire completely out.We had been out fight ingfor two hours. In actual fact about 120(not JUG) boys-mostly seniors from Pembroke and Finningleyfought the fire with sticks and sacks(not blankets). I sustained minor cuts,scratches and blis ters on my handsand legs. Apparently Mr.Storm stayed awakelong after we had showered and gone to bed, and prevented a further outbreak of the fire. Our reward was being allowed to get up an hour later than usual and miss the first period. ■r-A / r®i w I--*.-*. 0^ HOME INDUSTRY We regret that, owing to circumstances not under our control, the cider industry has had to close down. Our vast assets have been divided out and the school will now quieten down as the daily bargaining will have to end temporarily. For our long standing and trusty customers, special imports will be arranged. The trouble arose when one of our £100 vats exploded, wounding a number of our employees. The school authorities thep decided that this brewing was contravening the College's moral code and we regret that brewing will have to cease. K. C. CIDER INDUSTRIES INC., Botha's Hill (Erom a Kearsney Chronic of 1957) 48
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