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Bonfire Collapse- Various Sources
AGGIE BONFIRE TRAGEDY http : / /agnews.tamu.edu/bonfire.htm Nov. 18, 1999 AGGIE BONFIRE TRAGEDY Initial Report A major accident occurred at the bonfire site. There are fatalities, but details are still sketchy. Reports are that four, possibly five, students are dead. More information will be provided as soon as possible. We request that you advise your audiences to assist in traffic control by avoiding East Bizzell and University, and Texas and New Main. Employees who park in lots 50, 51 and 54 are asked to park at Reed Arena and they will be bused to campus. Also, it would be a great service if you would broadcast the following telephone number for concerned parents to call: 888 - 777 -6676 (Parent inquiries only). Parents are gathering in Room 145 MSC. Students are encouraged to call home and speak with their parents. As of 8:10 a.m., the local news is reporting that all the students originally taken to the hospital have been treated and released except for two who still are in surgery. Some may still be trapped, where emergency personnel still are working. Also, students plan to gather at the fountain at 4 p.m. for prayer and remembrance. THE FIRST NEWS CONFERENCE Dr. Ray Bowen, president of Texas A &M University: At 2:45 a.m. the bonfire fell, but we don't know why. The rescue teams are in the process of removing one person who is alive and hopeful that he will be removed soon. We believe there are others on the site but do not have information on others. Twenty -five individuals were transported to hospitals. Four have been killed and identified. This is an extremely sad occasion. We want to thank all the people who have been calling our university, and I appreciate the outpouring. We are experiencing difficulty with the phone system. We are working to allow more to get in. We are asking students to call their parents. I mentioned all the wonderful people calling, our governor and Lt. governor. We thank them for the special concern they have shown for our students. We will not have answers to all your questions as it is too early. What is going to happen with this year's bonfire. It is evident that there will not be a bonfire this year. What is the future of the bonfire? We don't know. It is an important tradition for all of us, but those decisions will be made at a calmer time. Bart Humphreys, information officer for the College Station Fire Department: We were called at 2:43 a.m. and were there within 6 minutes. At this point, we have one more confirmed live patient trapped in the stack. The process of removing the person is slow because the stack is not stable. Once the patient is removed and transported, we will reassess the situation. We don't have an accurate idea of how many more are in the stack. We don't have contact with other live patients at this time. Will Hurd, student body president: Call your parents so that they will know you are OK. Several hundred students were here and ready to help out. We are trying to get as much information as possible. And pray for the students who are out here, the students involved, and those who have lost friends and family. At 7 p.m. at Reed Arena, there will be a prayer service. There have been many tragedies that have faced A &M; it is time for us to pull together. Humphreys: There are 35 people working in the perimeter. It is labor intensive and have to be meticulous. Ancillary personnel? - hundreds of people 1 of 4 11/19/99 9:40 AM AGGIE BONFIRE TRAGEDY http : / /agnews.tamu.edu/bonfire.htm What is the student trapped saying? did a Thumbs Up (Student was removed by 9:05 a.m.) NEWS UPDATE AT 10:15 a.m. (Motion detectors were used for 15 minutes to try to detect sounds of trapped people) Cindy Lawson, Director, University Relations: Thanks for being quiet for motion detectors. When we have to use them, please be still and quiet. Even walking reverberates. There are some sounds, at least one person who still is trapped. We are hearing a moaning sound and a tapping sound. It is hard to tell if they are separate or coming from one person. What they are doing now, is moving the operation to the other side closer and are trying to reach the individual or individuals right now. The count is still 4 dead, 25 injured at this time. NOTE: Rescue crews had been working on the side that fell. It fell towards Texas Avenue. They now are working to shore it up. There are 4 cranes and maybe more on the way. It is like a house of cards: have to take off one at a time. It is like pick up sticks, you have to move one at a time. They are trying to move faster to remove the logs to see what they may find. NEWS UPDATE AT 11:04 a.m. Cindy Lawson, director, OUR: They are still working to free the individual or individuals. Lodging provided for parents of injured students at no cost by Hampton, Hilton, La Quinta, Vineyard Court Executive Suites. Also, Comfort Inn, Super -8 Motel, Crepe Myrtle Inn Bed and Breakfast, Best Western, Manor House, Ramada Inn, Days Inn, Wheelock Prairie Bed and Breakfast. NEWS UPDATE AT NOON Dr. Ray Bowen: Six students are now confirmed dead. Rescuers are now concentrating on at least one and possibily two students still trapped. Total of 28 have been taken to hospitals. Some have been released and some are in serious condition. Bart Humphreys: rescuers are using Delsar listening devices and concentrating on 3 areas for possible survivors. Hope to be through the rest of the stack before dark. All off -duty emergency personnel from both College Station and Bryan have been recalled. About 100 rescuers are on location. NEWS UPDATE AT 3:23 p.m. Bowen: Only six (media are reporting nine) are officially confirmed as dead. I pray that there are no more than that. With five or so unaccounted for, there may be more, but I hope not. NEWS UPDATE AT 3:45 p.m. Eight now are confirmed dead. NEWS UPDATE AT 5:20 p.m. Cindy Lawson: Three additional names will be made available at the end of the news conference. Our count, we now have nine and we know that there are at least two other students in the stack at this time. We 2 of 4 11/19/99 9:40 AM AGGIE BONFIRE TRAGEDY http : / /agnews.tamu.edu/bonfire.htm don't know their conditions. It doesn't look good, but there is always hope. There have been some who have commented that students were playing on the stack. That is not true. They were working on the stacks. There was no horsing around going on. There is a prayer service at 7 p.m. Reed Arena. I want to talk with you and reason with you. The faculty, the students and the parents would like their privacy. Bart Humphreys: We have started using some heavy equipment on the stack. Have reached a point where most of the unstable part has been removed. What we are moving now is the base level. We have requested some additional technical rescue people, to keep crews out for longer time to give those who've been here for 14 hours a rest. We fear that that will escalate. We are not as far along as we would like to be. Rusty Thompson: I know there has been a lot of speculation about the cause. At this time we still do not konw. The investigators are led through the University Police Department. I have no other new information. I have been spending time with student leaders and I just ask those students who are here to pray with those folks and stay with each other. Hold each other and support each other. Cindy -- there is probably no other place in this country, where they pull together and we are especially proud of the Corps of Cadets who could be called on a moments notice to help move these logs, to help us with this situation. We think at this point that we have the students accounted for, but unfortunately at the time of the accident we don't know how many were on the stack. I am sure that we won't know for sure until we remove all the logs and ascertain the situation. My understanding is that some people have been spotted, but their condition at this time we do not know. Rusty: The cause of the 1994 fall was not attributed to the construction but to the weather. Following that, we solidified the ground. Added time to help harden that area. But since it was not contributed to the construction, that part was not changed. Texas Aggie Bonfire is a student -run organization. What adult was here? These students who work on bonfire ARE adults (Students whooped when he said this) So there were no fulltime university staff here at the time. I left the site at 10:30 -11 p.m. Actual number on the stack? We are trying to get a solid number on that, but our answer remains approximately 70. Was there horseplay? There was no horseplay going on. When the students are on the stack and working, they realize the seriousness of what they are doing. Bart: How long to the bottom? I still do not know. As long as we can use the equipment in a safe manner, but we will be here until we get through. We last used the listening equipment at 1:30 p.m. and did not have any response since then. The number of injured remains the same. It is hard to describe where the remaining ones are in the stack. I would have to say about midlength and mid depth. NEWS UPDATE AT 7 a.m., Nov. 19 The total stands at 11 students dead. Ray Bowen: The bonfire was completely dismantled at 2:25 a.m., almost 24 hours to the minute after the disaster. We are still dealing with shock and trying to help with the families and the young people who are injured. A group of student leaders will meet with Dr. Southerland today to talk about next week's activities. Blood Needed Blood drive at American Red Cross on University Dr. until 8 p.m. As of 11 a.m., there are 400 people already waiting to give blood. There is a two hour wait. It will continue Nov. 19. Student Comments 3 of 4 11/19/99 9:40 AM AGGIE BONFIRE TRAGEDY http : / /agnews.tamu.edu/bonfire.htm Injured student who returned after being released from the hospital: I heard a large crack. Since it fell away from me, it pulled me up. It happened faster than I could react. I have a cracked wrist, broken nose and twisted knee. Close to 70 -75 people were there. Names of the Deceased Christopher Breen from Austin, Texas, Class and major not available Jerry Self, Arlington, Texas, sophomore, engineering technology Jeremy Frampton, Turluck, Calif., senior, psychology Brian McClain, San Antonio, Texas, freshman, agriculture Miranda Adams, Pasadena, Texas, sophomore, biomedical science Chad Powell, Keller, Texas, sophomore, computer engineering Nathan Scott West, Bellaire, Texas, sophomore, oceanography Jamie Hand, Henderson, Texas, freshman, environmental design Lucas Kimmel, Corpus Christi, Texas, freshman, biomedical science Christopher Lee Heard, Houston, Texas, freshman, pre- engineering Michael Ebanks, freshman Names of the Injured St. Joseph's Hospital, Bryan College Station Medical Center Pending A Response from The University of Texas A Response from Texas Tech University -30- To Texas A &M; Agriculture News Home Page 4 of 4 11/19/99 9:40 AM CBS wysiwyg: //55/ http:// www .cbsnews.com /story_203475.html naviga = s ortcut : ,, _I-) El E CBS NEWS "`CBS NEWS 1 National CBS IR 9 Die In Texas Bonfire Collapse s . Two Students Reported Missing, 28 Injured "We were S . Annual Texas A &M Event Dates Back To 1909 just doing a stack like " ,:, COLLEGE STATION, Texas we ,P011ti Thursday, November 18,1999 07.40 PM ET normally Poll-? q " z _ (CBS) Texas A &M University do and it Money!1 -- . officials are searching for what just fell." , caused the log tower for the s tudent Jenny .Health . c school's traditional pre -game Calloway Btee� °' bonfire to collapse, killing at part , • least nine students and injuring LOC.,, �' _— 28 more. iAfia=a { ` T\/ SHOWS CBS News Nine bodies have been pu Correspondent WEATHER from the pile, reports CBS Maureen CBS SPORTS ' = News Correspondent Maher Reports LOCAL Aerial view of the collapsed Maureen Maher. Officials say GUIDE bonfir two students are still believed ' to be in the debris, but there is MONEY still no word on whether they are alive. HEALTH CBS Removal of thousands of logs will continue through the night. KIDSHOW Authorities in College Station are calling in more technical LIFE support from San Antonio, Austin and Houston. Special dogs SHOPPING also will be used in the search. U T I L I T I E The names of six of the deceased released by the university S are: Christopher Breen of Austin, Texas, Jerry Self of 4 , , ,F. l • Arlington, Texas; Jeremy Frampton of Turlock, Calif.; Bryan EE McClain of San Antonio, Texas; Nathan Scott of Bellaire, Texas; and Chad Anthony of Keller, Texas. HEI University president Dr. Ray Bowen said the injured were wai transported to area hospitals with various injuries. College Station fire official Bart Humphries said up to six people were in critical condition and four were in surgery. COMMUNICATION Updates on the condition of CENTER , * those injured can be obtained 1 m...--, ` ' from the St. Joseph Web site: i •7 8ehathree.com www.st- ioseph.org. V Bowen called the collapse an ' "extremely sad occasion" '' .. and said there would not be a , ... 't bonfire this year. ,% Texas A &M student body KBIx -TV Ili president Will Hurd said, Rescue workers carefully lift logs off 'Students need to band the stack. together to get through this tragedy... It's a day for prayer on the school campus." 1 of 3 11/18/99 6:46 PM CBS wysiwyg: //55/ http:// www .cbsnews.com /story_203475.html • As many as 70 Texas A &M university students were on top of the 40 -foot stack of thousands of logs when the accident happened, according to university officials. The collapse occurred at about 2 a.m. Thursday local time. Emergency officials were on the scene within an hour. "One second we were up, having a good time... having fun, and the next second it was over, we were on the ground," remembers student Bruce Unger. Bonfire adviser Rusty Thompson said, "Students were working on the stack, and there was a sudden movement, and seven seconds later it was at the state we see now." The bonfire would have reached 55 feet when completed. "We were just doing a stack like we normally do, and it just fell," said student Jenny Calloway. Hours after the collapse, dazed students could be seen walking around the site, where they had been working for several days. y Parents may call 888- 777 -6676 for information ... � about students. People {._. wanting to donate blood may call the American Red Cross at 409 - 268 -4755. Jim Dunlop, president of the Brazos Valley Lodging Association, is heading up a group of local motels and Survivor Caleb Hill talks with hotels offering free rooms to reporters. injured students' parents. Parents can call 800 - 777 -8292 to access those rooms. The bonfire is an annual event that has been going on since 1909. The bonfire is built prior to the Thanksgiving game with the University of Texas. The Aggies are set to play archrival Texas on Nov. 26, the day after Thanksgiving. Support and sympathy for A &M is coming from UT. A planned pep rally there will now be a candlelight vigil. And proceeds from the sale of T -shirts for the big game will go to a memorial fund for the dead students. The bonfire ceremony usually features performances by the Aggie band, school cheers called "yells," and pep talks by administrators, football players and coaches. But the project hasn't always . 'f1 been trouble -free: One stack collapsed in 1994, but a second was built and ignited. KB1x -TV Previous bonfire burns at College The accident was the third Station. disaster related to the 43,000- student Texas A &M this fall. On Sept. 18, five people were killed in the crash of a plane 2 of 3 11/18/99 6:46 PM CBS wysiwyg: //55/ http:// www .cbsnews.com /story_203475.html used by the Aggies Over Texas skydiving club, often used by Texas A &M University students and alumni. On Oct. 10, six college students walking to a fraternity party were killed by a pickup truck driver who had fallen asleep, police said. Copyright 1999 CBS Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. About.com user survey Who will you vote far in 2000? 0 Al Gore 0 George W. Bush Vote I back to top © 1999, CBS Worldwide Inc., All Rights Reserved. Advertise With Us 1 Copyright Information 1 Privacy Statement 3 of 3 11/18/99 6:46 PM WIRE home http : / /wire.ap.org/APnews /main.html news from ' the associated r€ s sci tech arts weather election search TOP STORIES NOVEMBER 18.09:04 EST Trade Deficit Widens in September WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. trade deficit widened to $24.4 billion in September even though beleaguered American farmers saw their exports climb to the highest level in 19 months.... Clinton Hails Budget Deal ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) — President Clinton hailed a budget deal with Congress as a "hard won victory for the American people" today despite the inclusion of an across - the -board spending cut he had once opposed. Clinton Warns Yeltsin on Chechnya ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) — President Clinton today warned Russian President Boris Yeltsin against feeding an "endless cycle of violence" with his military offensive in Chechnya, but a defiant Yeltsin told world leaders not to criticize his fight against "bandits and murderers." ... EgyptAir Probe Focusing on Tape WASHINGTON (AP) — A team of government safety experts, hired translators, and Egyptian, FBI and manufacturer representatives is trying to precisely transcribe EgyptAir 990's cockpit voice recorder tape, and they expect to take at least five days.... Hurricane Lenny Batters St. Croix THE VALLEY, Anguilla (AP) — Hurricane Lenny loomed off a string of Dutch and British Caribbean islands today after slamming its 150 -mph winds against St. Croix, where it flung boats onto the beach, flooded roads and homes and tore away a pier.... Texas A &M Bonfire Accident Kills 4 COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — A Large stack of logs assembled for Texas A &M pregame bonfire collapsed early today, killing at least four people and injuring 25.... NBC, Washington Post Form Alliance NEW YORK (AP) — NBC and The Washington Post company have formed a partnership to share news reports in print, on TV and on the Internet. NBC News, the MSNBC cable network and Internet site will contribute to the alliance, along with print and Web operations of The Washington Post and its sister publication, Newsweek magazine.... Tokyo Stocks End Higher TOKYO (AP) — Tokyo stocks ended higher today with the Nikkei gaining 1 of 2 11/18/99 9:21 AM \-) http: // wire. ap. org /APnews /center p...IS70QD5T80 &SLUG = STUDENTS %2dCRUSHED • ti.s. news sci tech arts weather election search NOVEMBER 18, 23:34 EST Texas A &M Bonfire Accident Kills 11 By MICHAEL GRACZYK Associated Press Writer COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — A �- News towering, 40 -foot pyramid of logs erected * ` �' . Texas A &M for Texas A &M's traditional football bonfire Bonfire trembled and then came roaring down early Accident K ill s Thursday, crushing at least 11 students to , , 11 death and injuring 28 others. . A &M Two people who had been seen trapped in ` . `� Bemire May the rubble Thursday afternoon were Extinguished confirmed dead later during the night. At least four of the injured were in critical "or ers rus away a stuient • Texas A &M condition. AP /Dave McDermand [27K] FB Team Mourns Deaths A wave of grief settled over the campus of 43,000, some 90 miles northwest of . Tearful Bush Houston. Thousands turned out for a memorial service Thursday night, including Discusses A &M former President George Bush, whose presidential library is at Texas A &M. Tragedy For the Texas Aggie famil and the world, this has b a da of unspeakable *Texas A &M gg Y � Y p Bonfire grief and sorrow," A &M president Ray Bowen said. " een We're all trying to cope Collapse with this tremendous loss of life and the pain and suffering." Victims y Rescuers earlier in the day used sensitive a sound- detection equipment to listen for y moaning or tapping from the enormous pile of collapsed logs, and heard scratching noises that led them to believe there were victims cciiegc - trapped. Statto; TEXAS �� Top levels of the structure, which is tiered o • • `° '' like a wedding cake, fell off to one side. in Workers removing the base level Thursday afternoon were certain there were no bodies in that section, Humphreys said. Later, school officials said they had ' � -' ;' � ° "' accounted for everyone involved in building The bonfire accident. the bonfire structure. But the painstaking work was expected to continue into the night as rescuers tried to reach the two people seen in the debris. 1 of 4 11/18/99 10:42 PM http: // wire. ap. org /APnews /centerp...IS70QD5T80 &SLUG = STUDENTS %2dCRUSHED "We take it one log at a time," said Kem Bennett, director of a state rescue unit. "They're wired three together in stacks, so we have to cut the wire and move them one at a time So it's a lengthy process." f r Shocked students gathered at the scene, holding hands and praying while the rescue r went on. Workers tapped on logs and ordered spectators to be still so they could hear if anyone was still alive. to • ents an. rescue wor ers gat er Texas A &M sophomore Diana Estrada said AP/Pat Sullivan [36K] she was about 200 yards away from the stack when it fell. "It just toppled over, and the wires snapped and the lights started sparking and going on and off," she said. "We ran over there as fast as we could, and we could see legs sticking out and hear people screaming." ��udi� Officials had no explanation for the collapse and said engineers would examine the site. Sixty to 70 students were on top of the logs trying to build the stack when it suddenly gave way, university officials said "I was dazed. I was kind of thrown against the wall," said ITS • ur•, sophomore Caleb Hill. "For a while, I could see a few people preside body trying to um off the stack, get out from on top of it out from president, says rY g jump p students need underneath it." to band together. Sophomore Michael Guerra, who was helping build the bonfire, (Courtesy had left for a few minutes and returned moments after the KHOU -TV, 195K) collapse. "People were running around calling people's names and crying," Guerra said "Other people were just like zombies. They couldn't believe what had W. happened." 4 ,, Faculty adviser Rusty Thompson said students told him there was no hint of a problem until there was "noise and chaos." "There was just a sudden movement," he said. "Five to seven seconds and it was on ° the ground." 'raying at rescue site AP /Pat Sullivan [37K] "I've never seen anything like this," said student Patrick Freshwater, who was helping clear away the logs. "It's something you don't ever want to feel. I went to my class and there was nobody there. The teacher wasn't even there, because no one can go to class when this is going on." 2 of 4 11/18/99 10:42 PM - http: // wire. ap. org /APnews /center p...IS70QD5T80 &SLUG = STUDENTS %2dCRUSHED The bonfire, meant to get students fired up for the football game `°" d o against archrival Texas, is a beloved tradition at Texas A &M and Quici<Time attracts tens of thousands of spectators. Real video Since the tradition began in 1909, when the school was still an all -male military academy, the bonfire has been canceled only escuers one other time: in 1963, after President Kennedy's assassination. search through a 40- foot -high This year's bonfire was to have been lit on Thanksgiving, the collapsed night before the big game. pyramid of wooden logs for Texas Bowen, the university president, said this year's bonfire would be A &M students canceled and added he was not sure if the bonfire would be permanently abolished. "It's a very important tradition to us," he said, "but those decisions must be made at a calmer time." Although the project is run by students, }� engineers and non - student adults are always at the site, said Thompson, the faculty adviser. The students cut the logs to lengths t , of about 10 feet and build the pile themselves over several weeks. Cranes and f tractors lift the logs, which are then tied :on ire ata ity together with baling wire. AP /Pat Sullivan [31K] The structure, which this year would have included about 7,000 logs and reached 55 feet, is designed to twist inward and collapse on itself as it bums. The stack also collapsed in 1994, but no one was injured. A second was built and ignited that year Both students and alumni have strong opinions about the bonfire. A group calling itself Aggies Against Bonfire has called in the past for the abolition of the annual event, saying it wastes resources, pollutes the air and contributes to dozens of injuries and alcohol - related arrests each year. Dallas Cowboys special teams coach Joe Avezzano, who was an assistant coach at A &M during the 1980s, said the ritual should go on. "It is part of the tradition and history," he said. "Thousands and thousands of people have been involved over the years, and that may be underestimating it." Senior Kay Barrington suggested that this year's bonfire, at least, go on. "My feeling is they won't get any closure if they just take it down. We could get it built again in five days, because you know, they died to build it," she said. "They wouldn't want to just put it away. They'd want to bum it." Thursday's accident was the third disaster related to Texas A &M this fall. On Sept. 18, five people were killed in the crash of a plane used by an A &M- connected skydiving club. On Oct. 10, six students walking to a fraternity party not far from campus were 3 of 4 11/18/99 10:42 PM http: / /wire.ap.org /APnews /center p...IS70QD5T80 &SLUG= STUDENTS %2dCRUSHED • killed by a pickup truck whose driver had fallen asleep, police said. One of the victims was from Texas A &M. home ] us news ] world ] business ] sports ] weather ] search ] help ] Ap Copyright 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Comments and questions AP privacy statement 4 of 11/18/99 10:42 PM http: // wire. ap. org / APnews /center p...ID= schoolyard &STORYID= APIS70Q20EGO • � � � k.�. � sci tech arts weather election search NOVEMBER 18, 10:50 EST Tearful Bush Discusses A &M Tragedy WASHINGTON (AP) — An emotional George W. Bush said today that his heart goes out to the parents of .Texas A &M Texas A &M students who were killed when a 40 -foot Bonfire pyramid of logs collapsed on them. Accident Kills 9 "I just can't imagine what that means to have that A &M happen to them," the governor said in an interview on CNN Bonfire May Be Extinguished "It's sad, it's tough," he said, his voice choked with emotion. Tearful Bush exas ov. eorge . Discusses A &M pyramid, being built for a traditional bonfire in Bush Tragedy The py g AP/Rodney White [ 16K] advance of the school's football game against the . Texas A &M University of Texas, collapsed early today while dozens Bonfire of students were climbing on it. At least four students were killed and 25 were Collapse injured. victims Bush said he had been in touch with the university's president and the chairman of the board of regents. �. He called the bonfire ''a great tradition." It : z �: A� i began in 1909 and was lit every year " r afterward, except 1963, following President • Kennedy's assassination. e fig son ire m " AP/Bill Meeks [25K] The Texas governor said he had a "great attachment" to the university. "I'm a little emotional," Bush said, a tear falling down his cheek. But the university will rally and recover," he said. "Right now it's a time of chaos at Texas A &M, but things will be fine." home ] us news ] world ] business ] sports ] weather ] search ] help ] Ap Copyright 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Comments and questions AP privacy statement 1 of 1 11/18/99 6:42 PM http: // wire. ap. org / APnews /centerj...ID= schoolyard &STORYID= APIS70Q8H900 ¢' pfd'.' �� c t u. s. se, tech arEs weather election search NOVEMBER 18, 18:16 EST A &M Bonfire May Be Extinguished 1 By MEGAN K. STACK Associated Press Writer Texas A &M COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — At tradition -rich Texas A &M University Bonfire — where there is no such thing as a "former" Aggie and even the dog mascots 9 ccident Kills have their own cemetery — a bonfire has lit up the campus almost every fall for almost a century. . A &M Bonfire May That tradition took a tragic blow early Thursday. Be Extinguished In a matter of moments, the massive framework of this year's bonfire collapsed, • Tearful Bush killing at least nine students. Discusses A &M Tragedy The question soon spread across campus: Light the bonfire or abandon a beloved . Texas A &M tradition? Bonfire Collapse "You know they died to build it," said Kay Barrington, a 21- year -old senior. Victims "They wouldn't want it to just get put away. They'd want it to burn." University president Ray Bowen canceled this year's event for only the second time since the tradition began in 1909. The other cancellation came after President Kennedy's assassination. But he could not say whether the bonfire would be abolished permanently. The yearly bonfire is the work of the so- called "pots," named for the hardhats each student - builder emblazons with nicknames, symbols and favorite slogans. The complicated hierarchy of the pots is arranged in the fashion of a family. Each year, the pots thrash through the forest, fell lumber and pour sleepless nights into building the structure. Their work culminates in the lighting of the bonfire before Texas A &M's football game with archrival Texas. "We tease about it being a sort of a cult," said Donna Broach, whose 20- year -old son Josh, a pot, was standing atop a crane when the logs toppled. "But traditions here — well they're just huge." Students at the former all -male military academy are known to say, "There's no such thing as a 'former' Aggie." Among its proud traditions is Muster, a ceremony celebrated in more than 400 places around the world each April 21 since 1883. Begun as a way for students to get together and relive their college days, the candle - lighting ceremony has evolved into an event to honor all students, including those who have died, as well as Texas' freedom. Another tradition, Yell Practice, which dates to 1913, helps students perfect their school spirit for football games or other events. Students gather at midnight at Kyle Field to practice their yells. 1 of 2 11/18/99 6:42 PM http: / /wire.ap.org/APnews /center p...ID= schoolyard &STORYID= APIS70Q8H900 And then there is the university's mascot, Reveille, a female collie attended to personally by a member of the Corps of Cadets. Each mascot receives a military-style funeral attended by thousands. Previous Reveilles once were buried at the north end of Kyle Field — facing the scoreboard, as if to watch the Aggie team score. Their remains were moved in 1997 to a new resting place because of construction at the stadium. In 1997, the bonfire was ranked as one of the 10 greatest college football traditions by Athlon Sports magazine, a Nashville -based publication. "These traditions are part of the campus experience. I think it's going to mar the tradition. Any tragedy like this puts a clear perspective on college football in general," said Charlie Miller, the magazine's managing editor. "Every Saturday we see college students distraught because their teams lose. An event like this renders the game meaningless." F ., Thursday's calamity had some students calling for the bonfire to be permanently extinguished. "It seems like this is the last straw," said 23- year -old Karyn Bayha, a 1999 graduate who left work Thursday to watch the rescue. "Personally it would be hard for me to see the bonfire carried on after this." But pots who saw the stacks of logs tumble were some of the most vehement defenders of the bonfire. Beau Brunson stayed up all night and into the afternoon to help look for his trapped fellow students. Dusty and red -eyed, Brunson paused from his afternoon labor of hauling logs from the wreckage. Asked whether the university should put an end to the yearly bonfire, Brunson was adamant. "Absolutely not because people gave their lives for it," he said. "If we don't burn it, they died for nothing." home ] us news ] world ] business ] sports ] weather ] search ] help ] Ap Copyright 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Comments and questions AP privacy statement 2 of 2 11/18/99 6:42 PM http: / /wire.ap.org /APnews /center p...IS70Q9B4GO &SLUG = STUDENTS %2dCRUSHED U.S. • news sci tech arts weather election search NOVEMBER 18, 19:11 EST Texas A &M Bonfire Accident Kills 9 eaticut tiOn By MICHAEL GRACZYK Associated Press Writer a exas COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — A Bonfire towering, 40 -foot pyramid of logs erected 9 ccident Kills for Texas A &M's traditional football bonfire trembled and then came roaring down early _ A &M Thursday, crushing at least nine students to ' � Bonfire May death and injuring 28 others. " * Extinguished -744111 gm- After an hours -long, campus -wide sweep, at ` ` • Tearful Bush least five students were still unaccounted Discusses A &M for. At least four of the injured were in Tragedy v, or ers rus away a stu I ent critical condition and a wave of grief settled AP/Dave McDermand [27K] . Texas A &M over the campus of 43,000, some 90 miles Bonfire northwest of Houston. Collapse Victims Two people could be seen trapped in the rubble late Thursday afternoon, but rescuers couldn't tell if they were dead or alive. "We fear (the death toll) will escalate," said fire department spokesman Bart Humphreys. Rescuers earlier in the day used sensitive .ctoa sound - detection equipment to listen for moaning or tapping from the enormous pile of collapsed logs, and heard scratching noises that led them to believe there were victims College trapped. Station TEXAS Top levels of the structure, which is tiered xus • like a wedding cake, fell off to one side. Workers removing the base level Thursday afternoon were certain there were no bodies in that section, Humphreys said. The painstaking work was expected to continue i nto the night. The bonfire accident. "We take it one log at a time," said Kem Bennett, director of a state rescue unit. "They're wired three together in stacks, so we have to cut the wire and move them one at a time. So it's a lengthy process." 1 of 4 11/18/99 6:20 PM http: // wire. ap. org /APnews /center p...IS70Q9B4GO &SLUG = STUDENTS %2dCRUSHED Shocked students gathered at the scene, holding hands and praying while the rescue went on Workers tapped on logs and ordered spectators to be still so they could hear if anyone was still alive. Texas A &M sophomore Diana Estrada said she was about 200 yards away from the stack when it fell. "It just toppled over, and the wires snapped and the lights started sparking and going on tu. ents ans rescue wor ers gat er and off," she said. "We ran over there as AP/Pat Sullivan [36K] fast as we could, and we could see legs sticking out and hear people screaming." Officials had no explanation for the collapse and said engineers would examine the site. audio stack to 70 students were on top of the logs trying to build the stack when it suddenly gave way, university officials said. "I was dazed. I was kind of thrown against the wall," said sophomore Caleb Hill. For a while, I could see a few people trying to jump off the stack, get out from on top of it, out from IT • ur., underneath it." student body president, says Sophomore Michael Guerra, who was helping build the bonfire, students need had left for a few minutes and returned moments after the to band collapse. together. (Courtesy " People were running around calling eo le's names and KHOU -TV, p g g P P 195K) crying," Guerra said. "Other people were just like zombies. They couldn't believe what had happened." Faculty adviser Rusty Thompson said students told him there was no hint of a problem until there was "noise and chaos." "There was just a sudden movement," he said. "Five to seven seconds and it was on the ground." University president Ray Bowen said six students were killed. Bennett said he saw at least three more bodies in the wood pile. "I've never seen anything like this," said 'raying at rescue site student Patrick Freshwater, who was AP/Pat Sullivan [37K] helping clear away the logs. "It's something you don't ever want to feel. I went to my class and there was nobody there. The teacher wasn't even there, because no one can go to class when this is going on." 2 of 4 11/18/99 6:20 PM http: // wire. ap. org /APnews /center j,...IS70Q9B4GO &SLUG = STUDENTS %2dCRUSHED The bonfire, meant to get students fired up for the football game q video against archrival Texas, is a beloved tradition at Texas A &M and QiuickTime attracts tens of thousands of spectators. Real Video Since the tradition began in 1909, when the school was still an all -male military academy, the bonfire has been canceled only escuers one other time in 1963, after President Kennedy's assassination. :. search through a 40- foot -high This year's bonfire was to have been lit on Thanksgiving, the collapsed an pyramid of night before the big game. wooden logs for Texas Bowen, the university president, said this year's bonfire would be A &M students canceled and added he was not sure if the bonfire would be permanently abolished. "It's a very important tradition to us," he said, "but those decisions must be made at a calmer time." Although the project is run by students, r` engineers and non - student adults are always '. at the site, said Thompson, the faculty adviser. The students cut the logs to lengths of about 10 feet and build the pile themselves over several weeks. Cranes and tractors lift the logs, which are then tied : on ire ata ity together with baling wire. AP/Pat Sullivan [31K] The structure, which this year would have included about 7,000 logs and reached 55 feet, is designed to twist inward and collapse on itself as it burns. The stack also collapsed in 1994, but no one was injured. A second was built and ignited that year. Both students and alumni have strong opinions about the bonfire. A group calling itself Aggies Against Bonfire has called in the past for the abolition of the annual event, saying it wastes resources, pollutes the air and contributes to dozens of injuries and alcohol - related arrests each year. Dallas Cowboys special teams coach Joe Avezzano, who was an assistant coach at A &M during the 1980s, said the ritual should go on. "It is part of the tradition and history," he said. "Thousands and thousands of people have been involved over the years, and that may be underestimating it." Senior Kay Barrington suggested that this year's bonfire, at least, go on. "My feeling is they won't get any closure if they just take it down. We could get it built again in five days, because you know, they died to build it," she said. "They wouldn't want to just put it away. They'd want to burn it." Thursday's accident was the third disaster related to Texas A &M this fall. On Sept. 18, five people were killed in the crash of a plane used by an A &M- connected skydiving club. 3 of 4 11/18/99 6:20 PM http: / /wire.ap.org/APnews /center j,...IS70Q9B4G0 &SLUG = STUDENTS %2dCRUSHED On Oct. 10, six students walking to a fraternity party not far from campus were killed by a pickup truck whose driver had fallen asleep, police said. One of the victims was from Texas A &M. home ] us news ] world ] business ] sports ] weather 1 search ] help ] Ap Copyright 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Comments and questions AP privacy statement 4 of 4 11/18/99 6:20 PM CNN - Another student confirmed de...as A &M tragedy - November 19, 1Swysiwyg : / /65/http: / /www.cnn.com/US /9911 /19 /students.crushed.01/ news I_INIV RSITy (' I IARYLANL} UNIVERSITY COLLEGE Ilrili email services .cwt Click H ere U MUC is 'ere - Click Here Mi .COI11 "6 > scary page i Anot student conf u S dead i n Texas A &M tragedy POLITICS WEATHER BUSINESS 10 dead, 28 injured -- SPORTS some critically „, ' TECHNOLOGY _ SPACE , November 19, 1999 HEALTH Web posted at: 2:14 a.m. EST (0714 GM7) .I : 1 ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS TRAVEL In this story A FOOD • "" I ARTS & STYLE '' Grief settles over campus r . NATURE Bonfire was a tradition since 1909 ,t+4 I r+ ��F z IN DEPTH A a 41 , r ^' , Ai. c. IV .40' ,, d� "! s r z ANALYSIS No warning, it lust snapped' Fearing further collapse of the log pile, myCNN 'a Father describes son's fall rescuers remove logs gingerly, one by one RELATED STORIES, SITES 4 ' Headline News brief news quiz daily almanac MULTIMEDIA: COLLEGE STATION, Texas (CNN) -- A 10th student was confirmed video '' dead overnight in the collapse of a 40 -foot bonfire structure at Texas video archive A &M University. Another student remains pinned at the accident site. audio Officials said early Friday that 28 students were injured, four crtitically. multimedia showcase more services The students had been using large logs to build the bonfire structure as part of a campus tradition, when the logs apparently shifted, and the E -MAIL: pyramid collapsed, crushing several students and trapping others. Subscribe to one of our news e-mail lists. Late Thursday, thousands of students, alumni and families gathered in Enter your address prayer at a campus memorial service at Reed Arena at Texas A &M. g "We gather together tonight in Aggie Land, but we gather in great pain," said Corps. of Cadets Cmdr. Forrest Lane, who led the get a free e-mail account invocation. "Today has been filled with deep tragedy.” DISCUSSION: message boards The accident occurred before dawn chat Thursday at the university, which is located �r7_����C� Texas A &M feedback about 80 miles northwest of Houston. - students mourn CNN WEB SITES: the loss of friends Families of some of the students who were " "" Clan killed attended the evening service. Also a tlpolitics aittp, present were Texas Gov. George W. Bush, # kit ihl *'i[: t,YpI,l41 Asiallow and his father, former President George Reratives seeking more En Espanol Bush, whose presidential library is on the information on the accident can Em Portugues campus. call 888 - 777 -6676. Svenska I 1 of ` 11/19/99 1:46 AM CNN - Another student confirmed de...as A &M tragedy - November 19, 1Swysiwyg : / /65/http: / /www.cnn.com/US /9911 /19 /students.crushed.01/ Svenska -a University President Ray Bowen told the ',0 , crowd: "For the Texas Aggie family, this Students unsure about ending • FASTER ACCESS has been a day of unspeakable grief. bonfire tradition after accident europe japan "All of us cried as we watched our loved , , , _ , ones being removed from the stacks of o , ,;,, 1.1=110=11, to s W ed that all would be alive, but `' ' y • We prayed Go To .. they were not. We prayed that all of the , assimmiim CNN NETWORKS injuries would be minor but they were not r Bart Humphreys of the College We prayed that our agony and our grief Station fire department says the CM would end quickly, but it has not." rescue process must be conducted carefully. WTEntuatal&AL (138 K WAV) OVIC-airelEWS Grief settles over campus Texas student body president Will more networks Hurd says the campus as been transcripts University president Ray Bowen canceled (15 7K WAV) d by the accident . this year's bonfire for only the second time SITE INFO: since the tradition began in 1909. The other Texas A &M spokesperson Cindy g Lawson believes at least one 'help cancellation came after President student trapped in the rubble is contents Kennedy's assassination. But he could not (1 72 K WAV) search say whether the event would be abolished ad info Dr. Malon Sutherland, V.P of jobs permanently. Student Affairs, expresses his condolences to the families of mailigammi As the injured students, and bodies of the (1 26 KWAV) dead were painstakingly removed from the tangle of logs, grief descended on the The ouched the heart of Texas campus. Students hugged one another and governor George W. Bush. WINGSPAN cried; a crowd of young people gathered (167 K WAV) near the accident site, where rescuers CLICK HERE labored into the night as they tried to locate TO FIND OUT f'ol`E the student still trapped. The logs were wired together, and need to be carefully removed by `" cranes "one log at a time," said Kem Bennett, director of a state rescue unit. Bart Humphreys of the College Station Fire Department said rescuers used sensitive listening devices to detect any sounds. At several points, rescuers called for an "all quiet" at the scene they could listen more closely for a faint tapping. Humphreys said the last sounds heard from the beneath the pile were at about 10:30 a.m. CST , BEL OU HH (11:30 a.m. EST). *Sit 6/ifot art= "Every piece of wood in that pile is unstable and every piece of wood that moves affects other pieces of lumber," said Humphreys, who said Type a name ` the four -story, mostly white oak log pile was "like pickup sticks." rocs One injured student, who was trapped Victims: C Election beneath the pile of logs, was rescued six hours after the collapse. Bryan McClain, a freshman agriculture +ti,) Deficit 100 major from San Antonio Tobacco Jerry Self, a sophomore engineering Hundreds of rescuers and students technology major from Arlington, Texas f,1 2 huddled and dropped to a knee in Jeremy Frampton, a senior 1�1� prayer er Y psychology major from Califomia each time a body was removed from the Christopher Breen of Austin, Texas field on the northeast corner of the Chad Anthony Powell, a sophomore computer engineering major from t . 1 11 j campus. Keller, Texas h � —. Nathan Scott West a sophomore ocean t i )d )1'111 I I engineering major from Bellair, Texas n` Bonfire was a tradition since Jamie Hand, of Henderson, Texas 2 of 5 11/19/99 1:46 AM CNN - Another student confirmed de...as A &M tragedy - November 19, 1Swysiwyg : / /65/http: / /www.cnn.com/US /9911 /19 /students.crushed.01/ • Bonfire was a tradition since Jamie Hand, of Henderson, Texas Lucas Kimmel, of Corpus Christi, 1909 Texas Christopher Lee Heard, of Houston, Texas The bonfire, a 90 -year tradition at the Michael Ebanks, a freshman school, was to have been lit next week before a football game against arch -rival Texas. Bowen said the wood pile had fallen twice before: once, about 40 years ago, and again in 1994, when heavy rains caused the clay foundation to swell. "Over a period of about four hours, it moved." "This is the first time it's been catastrophic," he said. .4.- "It's just a tragic event," Texas - A &M football coach R.C. Slocum said. "The football game, at this time, is very inconsequential compared to this." • Texas A &M students were urged to ,§ call family members to let them . know they are safe. ' j' University officials said that Thousands turned out for a memorial normally 7,000 to 8,000 logs are service Thursday night piled up to make the bonfire which is built to a height of roughly 55 feet. Rusty Thompson, the adviser to the bonfire project, said as many as 70 students are allowed on the stack of logs at a time. The university president said the student builders received training. "We think our safety program is pretty good," Bowen said. "But in fact, today, we're not satisfied with anything we do. We are going to continue to review all those activities." No warning, 'it just snapped' Students were piling logs on the structure when it collapsed, witnesses said. Jenny Callaway, a student who was _ - on the stack, said it just fell. She ! said there was no warning. "It just i snapped," she said. A body is carried from the scene Sophomore Diana Estrada said she was about 200 yards away from the stack when it fell. "It just toppled over, and the wires snapped and the lights started sparking and going on and off," she said. "We ran over there as fast as we could, and we could see legs sticking out and hear people screaming." 3 of 5 11/19/99 1:46 AM CNN - Another student confirmed de...as A &M tragedy - November 19, 14wysiwyg : / /65/http: / /www.cnn.com/US /9911 /19 /students.crushed.01/ Sophomore Michael Guerra, who was helping build the bonfire, had left for a few minutes and returned moments after the collapse. "People were running around calling people's names and crying," Guerra said. "Other people were just like zombies. They couldn't believe what had happened." Bowen said structural experts were on site monitoring the de- stacking of the logs in an attempt to understand what caused the sudden and catastrophic accident. "Right now, we simply are perplexed," he said. "Frankly, we are also grieving and that is our principle preoccupation at this time." IP.r._ .:I,,. Father describes son's / fall ,$ Charles Hill of Crockett, Texas, told radio station WBAP -AM his son, Caleb, was on the stack when it fell. "He happened to be very fortunate. He has only a broken armanda broken nose. He fell about 50 feet," Hill said. "Caleb is very emotional and very scared. Being part of the tradition, he feels a responsibility for those who have been injured. In a sense his family has been hurt." The Texas A &M Aggies are set to play Texas on November 26, the day after Thanksgiving. The bonfire ceremony usually features performances by the Aggie band, school cheers called "yells," and pep talks by administrators, football players and coaches. CNN affiliates KPRC. KHOU, and The Associated Press contributed to this report. RELATED STORIES: For more US news, Custom News will bring you news from the areas and subjects you select. RELATED SITES: Texas A &M University The University of Texas at Austin St. Joseph • Bonfire Emergency Information City of College Station Note: Pages will open in a new browser window Extemal sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive. 4 f 5 11/19/99 1:46 AM CNN - Survivor sounds heard from b...e log collapse - November 18, 1999wysiwyg : / /96/http: / /www.cnn.com/US /9911 /18 /students.crushed.04/ 60 2th: AAQ, travel I C N.coa, is -ere ( J t.1... > story page § €E Survivor sounds heard from LAL collapse y , , beneath bonfire log colla se POLITICS �+ WEATHER e BUSINESS At least 4 killed, 25 _ . SPORTS injured in Texas A &M TECHNOLOGY , / e tragedy SPACE g �; :� . HEALTH , November 18, 1999 ENTERTAINMENT 4 ' Web posted at: 12:16 p.m. EST (1716 GMT) .,.`i BOOKS H of .` TRAVEL , FOOD In this story: ARTS & STYLE �� NATURE Students pray at scene of tragedy /..: IN -DEPTH No warning, 'it just snapped' - esccuers care u y remove ogs as ey ANALYSIS free an injured student myCNN Father describes son's fall This year's bonfire canceled; future fate Headline News brief uncertain news quiz RELATED STORIES, SITES 4' daily almanac MULTIMEDIA: video video archive COLLEGE STATION, Texas (CNN) -- A 40 -foot stack of logs being audio assembled for a Texas A &M football pep rally bonfire collapsed early multimedia showcase Thursday while dozens of students were climbing on it, reportedly more services killing at least four of them and injuring at least 25 others. Rescuers said they heard a "moaning and tapping sound," indicating more E -MAIL: survivors. Subscribe to one of our news e-mail fists. Workers tapped on logs and ordered 4W fIN-31;1•y1111l,l Enter your address: spectators to be quiet so they could hear if RelatiVeit more ...., , .. 1 I g o anyone was still alive. information on the accident can �' call 888 - 777 -6676. O Get a free e-mail account "Every piece of wood in that pile is unstable and every piece of wood that moves affects DISCUSSION. other pieces of lumber," said Bart Humphries, a spokesman for the message boards College Station Fire Department. chat feedback One of the injured is a student who was trapped beneath the pile of logs CNN WE S ITE S :' "` and rescued six hours after the collapse. " Drt1 l Cranes were removing the logs gingerly, one by one, to search for a[IpoHtics survivors. Asiallow En Espanol 4 "It's an extremely sad occasion (for) the Aggie community," said Texas Em Portuques i A &M President Ray Bowen. Svenska 't3 1 of 4 11/18/99 12:24 PM CNN - Survivor sounds heard from b...e log collapse - November 18, 1999wysiwyg : / /96/http: / /www.cnn.com/US /9911 /18 /students.crushed.04/ Svenska Cranes were removing the logs gingerly, one by one, to search for any other survivors. FASTER ACCESS g rope Students pray at scene of tragedy TIME INC 1 Students gathered near the scene, a field on the northeast corner of the campus, holding hands and praying while the rescue efforts continued at Texas A &M. The school is located about 80 miles northwest of Houston. - Texas Gov. George W. Bush said his heart goes out to the parents of INTER ' a the students killed. more network: " "I just can't imagine what that means to have that happen to them," the transcript governor said in an interview on CNN. SITE INFO; help "It's sad, it's tough," he said, his voice choked with emotion. contents search Texas A &M students were urged to call family members to let them ad info know they are safe. jobs WEB SERVICES: No warning, 'it just snapped' "At about 2:30 a.m. the center pole which holds up the bonfire collapsed," said Texas A &M University spokesman Jonathan Krwatz. WIN—G.-SPAN He said about 50 students were on top of the log pile when it fell. aRN -Rki €LIO( HERE Thousands of logs are piled high to build the bonfire, which was not to TO FIN r■UUT nor be set ablaze until Thanksgiving night. Students were piling logs on the structure when it "snapped," witnesses said, and collapsed. Jenny Callaway, a student who was on the stack, said it just fell. She said there was no warning. "It just snapped," she said. The bonfire, which draws tens of thousands of spectators, is an annual tradition since 1909 to get students fired up for the big football game against rival Texas. BrasouTH The large structure is built over the course of several weeks with multiple stacks of full -size logs put in place by cranes, tractors and `' crews of students. I Type a nameln The stack of logs would have topped 60 feet when completed; at �� � 1 the time of the collapse today, it Att- E `�, r �� was perhaps two- thirds of that, or ' 40 feet high. 4:1'7 - >; Students who build the bonfire get safety training in advance, Bowen ' said. "We'll have to ... analyze what happened to the structure and what 14' ,J collapse) PRC ccur," he An injured student at the scene told CNN affiliate 2 of 4 11/18/99 12:24 PM CNN - Survivor sounds heard from b...e log collapse - November 18, 1999wysiwyg : / /96/http: / /www.cnn.com/US /9911 /18 /students.crushed.04/ Father describes son's fall Charles Hill of Crockett, Texas, told radio station WBAP -AM that his son, Caleb, was on the stack when it fell. "He happened to be very fortunate. He has only a broken arm and a broken nose. He fell about 50 feet," Hill said. "Caleb is very emotional and very scared. Being part of the tradition, he feels a responsibility for those who have been injured. In a sense his family has been hurt." The Texas A &M Aggies are set to play Texas on November 26, the day after Thanksgiving. The bonfire ceremony usually features performances by the Aggie band, school cheers called "yells," and pep talks by administrators, football players and coaches. But the project hasn't always been trouble -free: One stack collapsed in 1994, and a second was built and ignited. This year's bonfire canceled; future fate uncertain Bowen said this year's bonfire would be canceled. Without specifying, he said "other events" would be held on the campus in connection with football game, "but there will not be the bonfire that we would have loved to have had." The university president also said no decision had been made whether the bonfire tradition would be continued in the future. CNN affiliates KPRC, KHOU and The Associated Press contributed to this report. RELATED STORIES: For more US news Custom News will bring you news from the areas and subjects you select. RELATED SITES: Texas A &M University The University of Texas at Austin St. Joseph • Bonfire Emergency Information City of College Station Note: Pages will open in a new browser window Extemal sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive. 3 of 4 11/18/99 12:24 PM CNN - Texas A &M students killed, t...f bonfire logs - November 18, 1999 wysiwyg : / /51/http: / /www.cnn.com/US /9911 /18 /students.crushed.02/ About.corn asks— bo'MatTrst to know o When faced w a dangerous situation police shou s - -- 2 (,) Shoot to loll 0 Subdue suspect 0 Hide Paid nn rA{I .cart e.. - ic 'ere is ere o vo e U.S. Mi 4IN > StOt y page MAIN Texas A &M students killed LOCAL trapped in collapse of bonfire POLITICS ■ WEATHER logs BUSINESS SPORTS TECHNOLOGY November 18, 1999 SPACE Web posted at: 9:51 a.m. EST (1451 GM7) HEALTH COLLEGE STATION, Texas ENTERTAINMENT (CNN) -- College students piling X ��`M'" ;— la; BOOKS logs on a 40- foot -tall unlit bonfire " _ TRAVEL were trapped and at least four were FOOD killed early Thursday when the ARTS ARTS & STYLE y y NATURE mass of timber collapsed on the ` IN -DEPTH at Texas A &M University. ANALYSIS myCNN At least 25 other students were injured in "this horrible accident," ranee u o o 0 several stu dent . trapped underneath Headline News brief said university president Rav the bonfire news quiz Bowen. daily almanac r A bonfire is built each year by A &M students to show their burning MULTIMEDIA: desire to beat rival University of Texas in football. The tradition goes video back 90 years. video archive audio multimedia showcase Cranes were summoned in an attempt to lift the heavy logs and find more services three trapped students. A fourth was freed by rescuers. "At about 2:30 a.m. the center pole which holds up the bonfire E -MAIL: collapsed," said Texas A &M University spokesman Jonathan Krwatz. Subscribe to one of our He said about 50 students were on top of the log pile when it fell. news e -mail lists. P g P Enter your address: 'g'o Bowen said it was not yet clear what caused the collapse. "All of the people who participate in this activity go through required safety Or: training so we'll have to ... analyze what happened to the structure and Get a free e -mail account what caused (the collapse) to occur," he told CNN affiliate KPRC. DISCUSSION sag boards University officials said that normally 7 000 to 8 000 logs are piled u sage ar " y �' g p p message gnat to make the bonfire, which is normally built to a height of 55 feet. feedback The Aggies are set to play Texas on November 26, the day after CNN MB Thanksgiving. wow= aupoll «s Texas A &M is located in College Station, a town about 80 miles Asiallow northwest of Houston. En. Espanol Em Portugues Relatives seeking more information on the accident can call Svenska 888- 777 -6676. 1 of 3 11/18/99 9:33 AM CNN.com wysiwyg : / /50/http: / /www.cnn.com/ B tY IT III NOW ! -,. ,, ' .I °'',. 111" Search CNN.com 1 IGo W MAIN PAGE mvCNN Video ( Audio Headline News Brief 1 Free E -mail 1 Feedba WORLD November 18, 1999 -- Updated 10:09 a m. EST 1509 GMT, p673 SUK1tCh© Internet time Rescuers have managed to free a student trap LOCAL ': BREAKING under the collapsed log pile at Texas A&M. Fo , POLITICS , . NEWS students are known dead. No others are known t WEATHER `- ill be trapped, but the search continu ` BUSINESS SPORTS TECHNOt_O ` ►� Deep SPACE ,A ,� Burton use HEALTH', ,, their heads ENTERTAINME j, ' - in 'Sleepy BOOKS � - , �- - Hollow' TRAVEL � ,� , a. , . ...,_. - °-. FOOD ARTS & STYLE In Other News: NATURE „ ' - 1 j h IN -DEPTH 4 ;' -, Lenny still menacing the ANALYSIS ` ' Caribbean LY myCNN exas ' : ' s u • en s I es, Detailed transcript of trapped in collapse of bonfire EgyptAir cockpit tape in the Headline News brief logs works ik news quiz daily almanac _ Congress, White House College students piling logs on a MULTIMEDIA: 40- foot -tall unlit bonfire were trapped and reach budget deal in pp late - night talks video at least four were killed early Thursday video archive when the mass of timber collapsed on them Yeltsin: West has 'no right' audio at Texas A &M University. to criticize Chechen multimedia showcase campaign more services At least 25 other students were injured in E-MAIL: this horrible accident,” said university rade gap widens to $24.4 y billion Subscribe to one our president Ray Bowen. news e-mail lists. Enter your address: U.S. plans to sell Or FULL STORY satellite - guided bomb Get a free e-mail account technology to Israel Live: George W. Bush interview 4 Real or Windows Media Heavenly fireworks for the new millennium w myCNN.com: Decide what's rie ou. ` ., Choose your stocks, w,q weather, sports and stories. El ..__....._.......... Brought to you by : MM 1 of 5 11/18/99 9:41 AM CNN - 4 Texas students crushed to ...ilding bonfire - November 18, wysiwyg: //25/ http: / /www.cnn.com/US... /18 /students.crushed.ap /index.html I Election 2000 Aiitcom b INObl 'Mat presidential candidate would you vote for ? . m Go and Vote 0 Bush 0 McCain j Bradley 0 Gore er Buchanan � Paid Banner Click Here is ere o vo e tl.s.:r story page WORLD GE 4 Texas students crushed to LOC death while building bonfire POLITICS WEATHER BUSINESS November 18, 1999 Web posted at: 8:01 AM EST (1301 GM7) SPORTS TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) -- Four college students were killed SPACE A and several others injured Thursday after logs they were stacking for an HEALTH annual bonfire event collapsed and crushed them, officials said. ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS Three students were still trapped under logs as crews tried to free them. TRAVEL FOOD As many s 50 Texas A &M university students were on top f the ARTS &STYLE s tack of to s when the accident happened early Thursday momin NATURE g PP Y Y g, IN -DEPTH according to university officials. ANALYSIS myCNN University spokesman Cynthia Lawson said that up to 16 students had been transported to St. Joseph Regional Health Center, according to the Headline News brief Bryan- College Station Eagle newspaper. news quiz daily almanac At the hospital, spokesman Bill Hyer said the hospital was expecting more victims to be brought there. MULTIMEDIA: video Hyer said there were reports that more students were still trapped in the video archive structure's rubble, but he refused to release further details. audio multimedia showcase more services A bonfire is built each year by A &M students to show their burning desire to beat the University of Texas. E -MAIL: Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, Subscribe to one of ourt. . broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. news e-mail lists. Enter your address: RELATED STORIES: Or: For more US news, myCNN.com will bring you news from the areas and Get a free e-mail account subjects you select. 101SCUSPOIrt RELATED boards ELATED SITES: chat See related sites about US feedback Note: Pages will open in a new browser window CNN WEB SITES: Extemal sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive. nivailikcorn OINE LATEST HEADLINES: allpoliiica WORLD: Asiallow En Espanol Yeltsin: West has no right' to criticize Chechen campaign Em Portugues NTSB: Last seconds of data pulled from EgyptAir flight recorder Svenska Clinton, Barak meet on Mideast peace process 1 of 11/18/99 7:51 AM Big12.Net -- Telcas A &M Aggies: 11 d...during prep for Texas game 11/18/99 wysiwyg:/ /38/http: / /www.bigl2.net/stories /111899 /tam_1118995297.shtml r 1 L. [ 1 _ ts) The Leading resource on the web for News, Views L j. , -° � and Interactive Statistics 1 1 mil on the Big 12 Conference. Standings Statistics ► Schedules r Raster ). Scores ). School Info daTt Web posted Thursday, November 18, 1999 11 dead after collapse of Aggie TEXAS UNI bonfire stack during prep for ; AGGIES Texas game Q0.. orts /Features 11 killed, 28 hurt in collapse of bonfire stack , Story from The Dallas Morning News .Football iiti ► Scores ' ►Standings By Christoper Lee , ►National Polls The Dallas Morning News ►Statistics ► Players .Team Profiles COLLEGE STATION -- In a tortuous Two students .Men's Basketball process that one official likened to who worked on ■Scores disentangling a pile of pickup sticks, the bonfire ■Standings embrace near the ►National Polls rescue teams dismantled what - Women's B. Ban remained of the Aggie bonfire late fallen structure. Scores - -Andy ►Sanings Thursday, hoping for survivors but Scott/Dallas ►National Polls expecting corpses. Morning News • Track & Field .Soccer At least nine students died when the • Volleyb •Big .2 News tiered, 40 -foot stack of logs collapsed in the wee •Recruiting 101 — hours of Thursday morning, officials said. More than • NFL Draft '99 •NBA Draft '99 two dozen students were injured, some seriously. • Interviews •Talkback Rescuers said at midday that they believed they had • Play ook b y y y • Columns detected some sounds from the rubble, indicating that •On the Air people might still be alive inside. However, no •AII Century Team •Feedback -NEW survivors had been extricated since early morning. .search "It's like pickup sticks. These logs are all intertwined," fire department spokesman Bart Humphreys said, alkback describing the difficulties faced by rescers. "Dear Ags: As a fellow Longhorn, all UT fans are saddened with the O released the names of news with this More Info unexpected tragedy. It four of the dead, including one is well known that from Arlington. He is Jerry Self, Family Nembers tragedies, such as the Only: collapse of Bonfire, a sophomore engineering will bring the technology major. The others 888 -777 -6676 community closer. The 409 -845 -4728 families involved will are Christopher Breen of 409- 845 -2217 be in our memories. Austin • Jerem y Frampton, Fram ton a UT will cancel Hex 409 - 845 -3211 Rally and instead, hold senior psychology major from 1 of 6 11%19/99 11:42 AM Big12.Net -- Texas A &M Aggies: 11 d...during prep for Texas game 11/18/99 wysiwyg: //38/ http : / /www.bigl2.net/stories/111899 /tam 1118995297.shtml victims. Plus, the Turlock, Calif.; and Bryan On campus meeting tower will be turned McClain, a freshman agriculture location for arents: black respect. Monday yo major from San Antonio. p show respect. May god j Memorial Student bless you all. Center (MSC), Room Sincerely, Jimmy" -- UTGuy2003 A memorial service began at 7 145 Respond to this p.m. tonight on the campus. message Aggie Memorial Officials said they could offer Bonfire 1 no information about the cause ran of the tragedy. They said Share your thoughts international engineers will examine the site about this tragedy .,, ,' to try to determine why the at Texas A &M. stack g ave way. "I would just like to DROIDS say that our thoughts R2,Prot°cot, Sophomore Diana Estrada was and prayers go out to .. the friends and family '� Astrornech's about 200 yards away from the .. ° in SOack of the four students bonfire when it fell. It just killed in College toppled over, and the wires Station!!! God Bless snapped and the lights started you all in Aggie Land sparking and going on and off," and remember we will she said. "We ran over there as be thinking of about fast as we could, and we could you here in Lubbock. see legs sticking out and hear GO AGGIES!! GO people screaming." TECH!!!" -- raider Roughly 60 or 70 students Respond to this were working on the bonfire message when the pile collapsed at 2:30 a.m., officials said. It was to have been burned on Thanksgiving night as a prelude to the Aggies' football matchup against their hated rival, the University of Texas at Austin. University President Ray Bowen said that, although this year's bonfire will be cancelled, it's too early to decide whether the 90- year -old tradition will continue. "Those decisions must be made at a calmer time," he said. The tragedy brought anguished words of support and soul- searching from Aggies around the state and beyond. "I think that's all you look forward to as you go through the year," said Dallas Cowboys rookie linebacker Dat Nguyen, A &M;'s all -time leading tackler. "If A &M; is 0 -10 or 10 -0, you have the bonfire. It's not just a tradition. It's something that's always been with Texas A &M; football. 2 of 6 11/19/99 11:42 AM Big12.Net -- Texas A &M Aggies: 11 d...during prep for Texas game 11/18/99 wysiwyg: / /38/http: / /www.bigl2. net / stories /111899 /tam_1118995297.shtml "But now we've got to really back up and think what is more important, what's really the whole perspective of it. People's lives were lost." Texas A &M president Ray Bowen said that as of noon, rescuers believed they had located at least one and possibly more students still alive and trapped in the rubble, based on information from sound - detection equipment. Bowen said six students were dead. Kem Bennett, director of Texas Task Force I, a state -run rescue unit affiliated with the Texas A &M Engineering Extension Service, said he had seen at least three more dead bodies under the rubble. Bowen said the 28 students' injuries vary and some were in "quite serious shape." In the hours after the 2:30 a.m. collapse, rescuers pulled four students from the rubble, said Bart Humphreys, a fire department spokesman. One student wasn't pulled free until more than six hours later. Humphreys said five students were missing, but rescuers had not heard sounds since 11 a.m. CST. Workers were tapping on logs and ordering spectators to be quiet and not move around so they could hear if anyone was still alive. Cranes were removing the logs gingerly to search for more students. The structure is designed to twist inward and collapse on itself as it burns. 3 of 6 11/19/99 11:42 AM Big12.Net -- Texas A &M Aggies: 11 d...during prep for Texas game 11/18/99 wysiwyg: / /38/http: / /www.bigl2. net / stories /111899/tam_1118995297.shtml errywr. • Sixty to 70 students were on top of ` the Togs when the accident happened in a field on the northeast corner of the campus, according to university officials. A maximum of , 7., 70 students are allowed on the , stack at one time. "Every piece of wood in that pile is Texas A &M students unstable and every piece of wood and rescue workers that moves affects other pieces of gather at the base of lumber," Humphreys said. the collapsed bonfire stack as the search continues for victims Students were gathered near the Thursday, Nov. 18, in scene holding hands and praying College Station, Texas. while the rescue efforts continued. -- The Associated Press "The scene right now is a scene of disbelief," Sallie Turner, editor of the Battalion, the student newspaper, said early in the morning. "A lot of the students just feel it's surreal." Patrick Freshwater, one of the students called "potheads" because of the hard hats they wear while helping assemble the bonfire, was helping clear away the logs today after the accident. "I've never seen anything like this," Freshwater said. "It's something you don't ever want to feel. I went to my class and there was nobody there. The teacher wasn't even there, because no one can go to class when this is going on." Officials did not have an explanation for the collapse but said engineers would be examining the site. Rusty Thompson, assistant director of the Memorial Student Center and the bonfire faculty adviser, said students told him "there was just a sudden movement. Five to seven seconds and it was on the ground." At St. Joseph Regional Health Center, three victims were in critical condition; one was in serious condition; three were in fair condition and five were treated and released, according to the hospital's Web site. A spokesman, Al Guevara, said the injuries ranged from fractures to internal trauma. Another 13 students were taken to College Station 4016 11/19/99 11:42 AM Big12.Net -- Texas A &M Aggies: 11 d...during prep for Texas game 11/18/99 wysiwyg: / /38/http: / /www.bigl2. net / stories /111899/tam_1118995297.shtml Medical Center, where two were in serious condition with broken bones and 11 others were being treated for minor injuries and were expected to be released, said spokesman Joe Buser. Officials were performing head counts at the university's residence halls in an effort to account for everybody who may have been working on the structure. The annual bonfire tradition began 1909 when Texas A &M was still an all -male military academy to get students fired up for the big football game against archrival Texas. The only year the bonfire was not lit was 1963, following President John F. Kennedy's assassination. With input from professional engineers, students cut the logs and construct the structure themselves over the course of several weeks. Cranes and tractors lift the multiple stacks of full -size logs, then students bale them together. This year's bonfire was supposed to reach 55 feet and be lit next week on Thanksgiving night. Students were working on the fourth of six stacks when the accident occurred. The Aggies are set to play Texas on Friday, Nov. 26, the day after Thanksgiving. Ms. Turner said some students support dropping the annual event. "I've spoken to quite a few who say it's not worth it," she said. ' 'Bonfire is one of the most sacred traditions to Texas A &M's campus," Ms. Turner said. "It's one of the status symbols of our university. ... People say this is historic because this is the end of bonfire." Charles Hill of Crockett told WBAP -AM that his son, Caleb, was on the stack when it fell. "He happened to be very fortunate. He has only a broken arm and a broken nose. He fell about 50 feet," Hill said. "Caleb is very emotional and very scared. Being part of the tradition, he feels a responsibility for those who have been injured. In a sense his family 5 of 6 11/19/99 11:42 AM Big12.Net -- Texas A &M Aggies: 11 d...during prep for Texas game 11/18/99 wysiwyg:/ /38/http: / /www.bigl2.net/stories /111899 /tam_1118995297.shtml has been hurt." The bonfire ceremony usually features performances by the Aggie band, school cheers called "yells," and pep talks by administrators, football players and coaches. But the project hasn't always been trouble -free: After the first stack collapsed in 1994, a second was built and ignited. Today's accident was the third disaster related to Texas A &M this fall. On Sept. 18, five people were killed in the crash of a plane used by the Ags Over Texas skydiving club, often used by Texas A &M University students and alumni. On Oct. 10, six college students walking to a fraternity party about two miles west of the campus were killed by a pickup truck driver who had fallen asleep, police said. The victims were four students from Baylor University, one from Texas A &M and one from Southwest Texas State. An emotional Gov. George W. Bush said today his heart goes out to the parents of the students who were killed. "I just can't imagine what that means to have that happen to them," the governor said in an interview on CNN. "It's sad, it's tough." The Associated Press contributed to this story. E -mail this story to a friend Content for Big12.Net is brought to you by: The Amarillo Globe -News I The Cedar Rapids Gazette 1 The Columbia Daily Tribune 1 The Daily Ardmoreite The Daily Oklahoman 1 The Denver Post 1 The Grand Island Independent 1 The Houston Chronicle The Lubbock Avalanche - Journal 1 The San Antonio Express -News 1 The Shawnee News -Star I The Topeka Capital - Journal Morris Communications Corporation Click here for the entire list of affiliates. All Contents ©Copyright 1999 Morris Communications Corporation Big12.Net is not affiliated with the Big XII Conference. 6 of 6 11/19/99 11:42 AM Bigl2.Net -- Texas A &M Aggies: 9 k...se of Aggie bonfire stack 11/ lwysiwyg:// 9/ http: / /redraiders.bigl... tories /111899/tam_1118994541.shtml 4 t 9 - ef t JP MI' llip 4 0 1 r s . rjr 1 ' ' Ill 1 42 S r 1 A [ 1114 Standings r Statistics r Schedules r Raster 1 * Scores School Info T -___ : Web posted Thursday, November 18, 1999 Z 9 killed, 28 hurt in collapse of Aggie bonfire stack - TES AIIM Story from Big12.net wire services AGGIES The Associated Press - po s ea ures COLLEGE STATION, Texas - A 40 -foot �� Scorres pyramid of logs assembled for Texas ' � ► ' :IT: Polls A &M University's traditional pregame ional ►Statistics bonfire collapsed early today, killing at .players least nine students and in injuring 28. At Texas A &M students e as ►Team Profiles g and rescue workers .Men's Basketball least five were unaccounted for as of gather at the base of ∎Scores - midday. the collapsed bonfire ►Standings stack as the search ► National Polls continues for victims .Women's B. Ball Texas A &M president Ray Bowen said ►Scores that as of noon, rescuers believed they Thursday, Nov. 18, in College Station, Texas. ►Standin ss had located at least one and possibly T he stacks' center ► ati ole, tT `onal Polls P •Track &Field more students still alive and trapped in shown in two pieces, occ -- e the rubble, based on information from one carrying a Corps • oC�T' Tievbatt sound- detection equipment. Bowen said of Cadets squadron • CI 1 N ews six students were dead. flag, and the second ecr n 0 • 'f snapped and the stack iliBriVarta Kem Bennett, director of Texas Task collapsed. -- The •In i-ry Force I a state -run rescue unit affiliated Associated Press Ta ac . Pik with the Texas A &M Engineering - o , Extension Service, said he had seen at n e it ii Century Team least three more dead bodies under the rubble. ;:reedliiC =NEW 'Search The university identified four of the students killed as Christopher Breen of Austin; Jerry Self, a sophomore 'Dear Ags: As a fellow engineering technology major from Arlington; Jeremy Longhorn, all UT fans are Frampton, a senior psychology major from Turlock, Calif.; and saddened with the news Brian McClain, a freshman agriculture major from San with this unexpected tragedy. It is well known Antonio. that tragedies, such as the collapse of Bonfire, will bring the community Bowen said the 28 students' injuries closer. The families vary and some were in "quite More Info involved will be in our „ Family UT will cancel serious shape. Y Nembers Hex Rally and instead, Only: hold a memorial for the 888-777-6676 victims. Plus, the tower In the hours after the 2:30 a.m. will be turned black on collapse, rescuers pulled four 409 - 845 -4728 Monday to show respect. May god bless you all. s from the rubble, said Bart 409 - 845 -2217 Sincerely, Jimmy" Humphreys, a fire department 409 - 845 -3211 -- UTGuy2003 Respond to this spokesman. One student wasn't message pulled free until more than six hours On campus meeting later. location for parents: 1 of 4 11/18/99 5:33 PM Big12.Net -- Texas A &M Aggies: 9 k...se of Aggie bonfire stack 11 /iwysiwyg: //9/ http: / /redraiders.bigl... tories /111899/tam_1 1 1 899454 1.shtml later. location for parents: Memorial Student x Humphreys said five students were Center (MSC), Room 1 I missing, but rescuers had not heard 145 E sounds since 11 a.m. CST. $ V'''' - Aggie Memorial Workers were tapping on logs and Bonfire III ordering spectators to be quiet and not move around so they could hear Share your thoughts o e n an tragedy were if any removing ne ws still the logs live. gingerly to at about Texas this A &M . search for more students. The "I would just like to structure is designed to twist inward say that our thoughts and collapse on itself as it burns. and prayers go out to the friends and family Sixty to 70 students were on top of of the four students the logs when the accident killed in College happened in a field on the northeast Station!!! God Bless corner of the campus, according to you all in Aggie Land university officials. A maximum of and remember we will 70 students are allowed on the be thinking of about stack at one time. you here in Lubbock. GO AGGIES!! GO "Every piece of wood in that pile is TECH!!!" -- raider unstable and every piece of wood that moves affects other pieces of Respond to this lumber," Humphreys said. message Students were gathered near the scene holding hands and praying while the rescue efforts continued. "The scene right now is a scene of disbelief," Sallie Turner, editor of the Battalion, the student newspaper, said early in the morning. "A lot of the students just feel it's surreal." Patrick Freshwater, one of the students called "potheads" because of the hard hats they wear while helping assemble the bonfire, was helping clear away the logs today after the accident. "I've never seen anything like this," Freshwater said. "It's something you don't ever want to feel. I went to my class and there was nobody there. The teacher wasn't even there, because no one can go to class when this is going on." Officials did not have an explanation for the collapse but said engineers would be examining the site. Rusty Thompson, assistant director of the Memorial Student Center and the bonfire faculty adviser, said students told him "there was just a sudden movement. Five to seven seconds and it was on the ground." At St. Joseph Regional Health Center, three victims were in critical condition; one was in serious condition; three were in fair condition and five were treated and released, according to the hospital's Web site. A spokesman, Al Guevara, said the injuries ranged from fractures to internal trauma. 2 of 4 11/18/99 5:33 PM Big12.Net -- Texas A &M Aggies: 9 k...se of Aggie bonfire stack 11 /Mysiwyg: //9 /http: / /redraiders.bigl...tories /111899 /tam 1 1 1 899454 1.shtml Another 13 students were taken to College Station Medical Center, where two were in serious condition with broken bones and 11 others were being treated for minor injuries and were expected to be released, said spokesman Joe Buser. Officials were performing head counts at the university's residence halls in an effort to account for everybody who may have been working on the structure. The annual bonfire tradition began 1909 when Texas A &M was still an all -male military academy to get students fired up for the big football game against archrival Texas. The only year the bonfire was not lit was 1963, following President John F. Kennedy's assassination. With input from professional engineers, students cut the logs and construct the structure themselves over the course of several weeks. Cranes and tractors lift the multiple stacks of full -size logs, then students bale them together. This year's bonfire was supposed to reach 55 feet and be lit on Thanksgiving night. Students were working on the fourth of six stacks when the accident occurred. The Aggies are set to play Texas on Nov. 26, the day after Thanksgiving. School president Ray Bowen said this year's bonfire will be canceled, but he didn't know if the tradition will be abolished permanently. "It's a very important tradition to us, but those decisions must be made at a calmer time," he said. A memorial service was scheduled for 7 p.m. Ms. Turner said some students support dropping the annual event. "I've spoken to quite a few who say it's not worth it," she said. ' 'Bonfire is one of the most sacred .� r traditions to Texas A &M's campus," Ms. - ' , 4 " "`' Turner said. "It's one of the status ' '' symbols of our university.... People say f;',' *` this is historic because this is the end of A ,_ --,NE-:4,,,....1v. , ..1 v . bonfire. Charles Hill of Crockett told WBAP -AM This is a file photo of that his son, Caleb, was on the stack a previous Texas when it fell. A &M bonfire. - -File "He happened to be very fortunate. He has only a broken arm and a broken nose. He fell about 50 feet," Hill said. "Caleb is very emotional and very scared. Being part of the tradition, he feels a responsibility for those who have been injured. In a sense his 3 of 4 11/18/99 5:33 PM Big12.Net -- Texas A &M Aggies: 9 k...se of Aggie bonfire stack 11 /lwysiwyg: //9 /http: / /redraiders.bigl...tories /111899 /tam 1118994541.shtml t _ family has been hurt." The bonfire ceremony usually features performances by the Aggie band, school cheers called "yells," and pep talks by administrators, football players and coaches. But the project hasn't always been trouble -free: After the first stack collapsed in 1994, a second was built and ignited. Today's accident was the third disaster related to Texas A &M this fall. On Sept. 18, five people were killed in the crash of a plane used by the Ags Over Texas skydiving club, often used by Texas A &M University students and alumni. On Oct. 10, six college students walking to a fraternity party about two miles west of the campus were killed by a pickup truck driver who had fallen asleep, police said. The victims were four students from Baylor University, one from Texas A &M and one from Southwest Texas State. An emotional Gov. George W. Bush said today his heart goes out to the parents of the students who were killed. "I just can't imagine what that means to have that happen to them," the governor said in an interview on CNN. "It's sad, it's tough." E -mail this story to a friend Content for Big12.Net is brought to you by: The Amarillo Globe -News 1 The Cedar Rapids Gazette 1 The Columbia Daily Tribune 1 The Daily Ardmoreite The Daily Oklahoman 1 The Denver Post 1 The Grand Island Independent 1 The Houston Chronicle The Lubbock Avalanche - Journal 1 The San Antonio Express -News 1 The Shawnee News -Star 1 The Topeka Capital - Journal Morris Communications Corporation Click here for the entire list of affiliates. All Contents ©Copyright 1999 Morris Communications Corporation Big12.Net is not affiliated with the Big XII Conference. 4 of 4 11/18/99 5:33 PM A3gieDaily http:// www. msc.tamu.edu /traditions/bonfire /news/ • JO t '" ' . 0 y ,,, ,......,,,esor 6 1 . .. TEXAS A&M 1' E ' T OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY • ELATIONS ; • aia II . 4 4 . Daily news and information from Texas A &M University November 17 '99 ARCHIVES CURRENT NEWS p 9 x • Last modified: Thursday, 18 Nov - 1999 19:11:07 CST English • Bonfire update Spanish Rescue operations at Texas A &M were continuing Thursday afternoon at the site of the university's annual bonfire. The Search stack of several thousand logs collapsed early this morning, killing at least nine students and injuring at least 28 others. This year's bonfire has been cancelled. It was to have been ignited Previous Day on Thanksgiving evening as a prelude to Texas A &M's next Friday (Nov. 26) morning football game with The University Texas. A memorial service is scheduled for 7 tonight in Reed NEWS SOURCES Arena. Also, it would be a great service if you would broadcast the following telephone number for concerned parents to call: 888- 777 -6676 (Parent inquiries only). The following nine students have been identified as among the fatalities: Engineering News The Battalion Online k ,ii �4 F WEATHER Forecast I Current .n; OTHER LINKS 1 ' City of Bryan t e Station ris op er- =teen City of College Austin, Texas Chamber of Commerce ?c, UN IVE 1 " . RELATIONS i All rights reserved 1998 i _ i l 1 of 4 11/18/99 8:16 PM AggieDaily http:// www. msc.tamu.edu /traditions/bonfire /news/ 1 Jerry Selt !Arlington, Texas 1 Sophomore, Engineering Technology major { eremy ramp on Turlock, California Senior, Psychology major . tom y 5 } :ryan ' c am San Antonio, Texas l Freshman, Agriculture major Chad Powell Keller, Texas Sophomore. Computer Engineering major 2 of 4 11/18/99 8:16 PM AggieDaily i I http: / /www.msc.tamu.edu /traditions /bonfire /news% fi v i , 'a an co "es I Bellaire, Texas Sophomore, Oceanography major Jamie Hand I Henderson, Texas I Freshman, Environmental Design major Lucas Kimmel Corpus Christi, Texas Freshman, Biomedical Science major Christopher Lee Heard Houston, Texas Freshman, Pre Engineering major A limited number of rooms are available for immediate family at the following locations: La Quinta - (409)696 -7777 Hampton Inn - (409)846 -0184 Hilton - (409)693 -7500 Vinyard Court (409)693 -1220 3 of 4 11/18/99 8:16 PM Agglebaily http:// www. msc.tamu.edu /traditions/bonfire /news/ Students are encouraged to call home and speak with their parents. Other contact information: Office of the VPSA (409) 845 -4728 or (888) 777 -6676 Family members may gather in 145 MSC; Staff available to help; Phones: 458 -3385, 3386, 3387, 3388 University Relations 845 -4641 Counseling Help -Line 845 -2700 or go personally to Henderson Hall AFS Contact Center 458 -8806; Tom Reber will coordinate: 228 -7627 (pager); Fax: 862 -8079 Other Information: Memorial Service tonight at 7:00 p.m. in Reed Arena (Bill Anderson 845 -1515) EMS Group Meeting: Rudder 308 7:00 p.m. Blood can be donated at the American Red Cross, 701 University Drive E, Chimney Hill Center Bonfire facts 1998 4 of 4 11/18/99 8:16 PM AggieDaily http://128.194.103.177/aggiedaily/flash.html ts A a .„. . k : °V. ' 4 v. . G 5v� g TEXAS A&M t E T OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY 'ELATIONS fI` " . x "oil Daily news and information from Texas A &M University November 17 '99 ARCHIVES CURRENT NEWS Last modified: Thursday, 18- Nov -1999 17:40:20 CST ngtls • Bonfire update Spanish Rescue operations at Texas A &M were continuing Thursday afternoon at the site of the university's annual bonfire. The Search stack of several thousand logs collapsed early this morning, killing at least nine students and injuring at least 28 others. PrevJous Day The following nine students have been identified as among the fatalities: NEWS SOURCES Christopher Breen Austin, Texas Agnews Jerry Self Arlington, Texas Sophomore, Engineering Technology major Engineering News ¢y ,., Jeremy Frampton Turlock, California The Battalion Online Senior, Psychology major Bryan McClain WEATHER San Antonio, Texas 4 sue Freshman, Agriculture major orecast a Chad Powell e :.. ; Keller, Texas -, Current Sophomore, Computer Engineering major � x Nathan Scott West,. � Bellaire, Texas � • �� OTHER LINKS Sophomore, Oceanograp y major=" - City of Bryan Jamie Hand Henderson, Texas Freshman, Environmental Design major City of College Station Lucas Kimmel Oamber of Commerce Corpus Christi, Texas Freshman, Biomedical Science major Christopher Lee Heard Houston, Texas . ,,. Freshman, Pre En ineerin major r UN WERsITY RELATIONS All rights reserved 1998 (Passport photos will be available soon) • This year's bonfire has been cancelled. It was to have been ignited on Thanksgiving evening as a prelude to Texas A &M's next Friday (Nov. 26) morning football game with The University of Texas. 1 _ of 2 11/18/99 5:52 PM AggieDaily http://128.194 .103.177 /aggiedaily /flash.html A memorial service is scheduled for 7 tonight in Reed Arena. • Accident at Bonfire Site A major accident occurred at the bonfire site. There are fatalities, but details are still sketchy. More information will be provided as soon as possible. We request that you advise your audiences to assist in traffic control by avoiding East Bizzell and University, and Texas and New Main. Employees who park in lots 50, 51 and 54 are asked to park at Reed Arena and they will be bused to campus. Also, it would be a great service if you would broadcast the following telephone number for concerned parents to call: 888- 777 -6676 (Parent inquiries only). Parents are gathering in Room 145 MSC. A limited number of rooms are available for immediate family at the following locations: La Quinta - (409)696 -7777 Hampton Inn - (409)846 -0184 Hilton - (409)693 -7500 Vinyard Court (409)693 -1220 Students are encouraged to call home and speak with their parents. Other contact information: Office of the VPSA (409) 845 -4728 or (888) 777 -6676 Family members may gather in 145 MSC; Staff available to help; Phones: 458 -3385, 3386, 3387, 3388 University Relations 845 -4641 Counseling Help -Line 845 -2700 or go personally to Henderson Hall AFS Contact Center 458 -8806; Tom Reber will coordinate: 228 -7627 (pager); Fax: 862 -8079 Other Information: Memorial Service tonight at 7:00 p.m. in Reed Arena (Bill Anderson 845 -1515) EMS Group Meeting: Rudder 308 7:00 p.m. Blood can be donated at the American Red Cross, 701 University Drive E, Chimney Hill Center Bonfire facts 1998 AqqieDaily 2 of 2 11/18/99 5:51 PM AggieDaily - http: / /www.tamu.edu /aggiedaily /flash.html Si 1r � F ..,....., .,. G 1 lip TEXAS A&M 'I T' - OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY - ELATIONS Er . 1, Daily news and information from Texas A &M University November 17 '99 ARCHIVES CURRENT NEWS • Bonfire update (update at 12.52 pm) nchsh Rescue operations at Texas A &M were continuing Thursday afternoon at the site of the university's annual bonfire. The Spanish x' stack of several thousand logs collapsed early this morning, killing at least six students and injuring at least 28 others. Search The following four students have been identified as among the fatalities: Previous Day • Christopher Breen of Austin; - Jerry Self, a sophomore engineering technology major from Arlington; NEWS SOURCES • Geramy Frampton, a senior psychology major from California; • Brian McClain, a freshman agriculture major from San x Antonio. (Passport photos will be available soon) This year's bonfire has been cancelled. It was to have been Engineering News ' ignited on Thanksgiving evening as a prelude to Texas A &M's next Friday (Nov. 26) morning football game with The The Battalion Online - University of Texas. A memorial service is scheduled for 7 tonight in Reed WEATHER Arena. Forecast • Accident at Bonfire Site A major accident occurred at the bonfire site. There are Current fatalities, but details are still sketchy. More information will be provided as soon as possible. We request that you advise your ,, ,,.£,, audiences to assist in traffic control by avoiding East Bizzell OTHER LINKS and University, and Texas and New Main. Employees who park in lots 50, 51 and 54 are asked to park at Reed Arena and they will be bused to campus. Also, it would be a great service if you City of Bryan would broadcast the following telephone number for concerned parents to call: 888- 777 -6676 (Parent inquiries only). City of College Station Parents are gathering in Room 145 MSC. Chamber of Commerce A limited number of rooms are available for immediate family at the following locations: La Quinta - (409)696 -7777 , Hampton Inn - (409)846 -0184 1 Cyr; I VrItsirr RELATION! Hilton - (409)693 -7500 All rights reserved 1998 Vinyard Court (409)693 -1220 Students are encouraged to call home and speak with their parents. 1 of 2 11/18/99 1:43 PM AggieDaily . http: / /www.tamu.edu /aggiedaily /flash.html • Other contact information: Office of the VPSA (409) 845 -4728 or (888) 777 -6676 Family members may gather in 145 MSC; Staff available to help; Phones: 458 -3385, 3386, 3387, 3388 University Relations 845 -4641 Counseling Help -Line 845 -2700 or go personally to Henderson Hall AFS Contact Center 458 -8806; Tom Reber will coordinate: 228 -7627 (pager); Fax: 862 -8079 Other Information: Memorial Service tonight at 7:00 p.m. in Reed Arena (Bill Anderson 845 -1515) EMS Group Meeting: Rudder 308 7:00 p.m. Blood can be donated at the American Red Cross, 701 University Drive E, Chimney Hill Center Bonfire facts 1998 Last modified:Thursday, 18- Nov -1999 13:01:58 CST AggieDaily 2 of 2 11/18/99 1:43 PM Scenes of sorrow, caring and strength http: / /www.msnbc.com/news/336676.asp • n ie P e Equipment Search Our Site Live PGA TOUR Info erstore`" Play FREE Fantasy Golf T cp he Online Golf Superstore' Handicap Tracking M '- N B+ fi il News HOME Scenes of sorrow caring and Business strength Sports Local Health Texas A &M tries Weelpf Technology to recover from bonfire tragedy Living .Travel that killed 11 TV News .� 6 },., Opinions ,a Weather SP A 60 Shop @MSNB� lY MSN.com Texas A &M students pray at the collapsed bonfire site early Friday in College * +"4 .,,,,,' Station, Texas. ASSOCIATED PRESS COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Nov. 19 — When tragedy struck, Caleb Hill was perched atop a 40 -foot pyramid of wired - together logs being prepared for Texas A &M's annual bonfire. 0 COMPLETE STORY . ADVERTISING ON MSNBC 1 .. +" GET ANY OF THESE � WINGSPAN RANI, co, SERVICES ONLINE... Checking Accounts I' CLICK HERE,,.,...,..r.r.g Nt?1* WINGSPAN OAR R,COY HouseCall 3.9 %IN R 5%�H � Information for BACK `— Healthy living THE WINGSPAN VISA 1 of 4 11/19/99 11:31 AM Scenes of sorrow, caring and strength http: / /www.msnbc.com/news/336676.asp • `I heard a "I HEARD A cracking sound. It was like thunder," cracking sound. It said the sophomore, who suffered a broken nose and was like thunder. broken wrist. "It shoved me into the wood, but the stack fell away from me, and I was lucky. Just very, very — CALEB HILL lucky." Texas A & M student Hill was among dozens of students setting up the bonfire tower Thursday when the structure suddenly gave way. Eleven students were killed and 28 others injured, five critically, including one whose condition was downgraded early Friday. The last two bodies buried in the rubble were recovered around 2:15 a.m. today — some 23 hours after the structure collapsed. DID THE CENTER POLE CRACK? Witnesses and some survivors said they heard the center pole — the structure's key component — crack, perhaps under the crush of timber. But university officials cautioned that it could be weeks before a final determination is made on what caused the collapse. Video "There is a lot of speculation about that, but we have no information to confirm something happened with the pole," university spokeswoman Cynthia Lawson said `'} The large structure is built over several weeks with multiple stacks of full -size logs put in place by cranes, ecrs tractors and students. The structure — which resembles Select your connection speed a tiered wedding cake — is designed to twist inward jzs.s 156,6 f Ti and collapse on itself as it burns. The center pole • Free Windows consists of two long telephone poles spliced together Media Player end to end and buried 15 feet deep on one end. It's held NBC's Jim Cummins in place by guy wires. reports Thursday on the As the cleanup operation continued into the early freak accident in Texas that has left a campus in morning Friday, about a dozen students gathered in a mourning. prayer chain, their singing of hymns the only sound aside from cranes working to pick the logs from the stack. MEMORIAL SERVICE Former President George Bush, whose presidential library is at Texas A &M, was among thousands who attended a 40- minute memorial service Thursday night at the campus of 43,000, some 90 miles northwest of Houston. Meanwhile, Texas A &M president Ray Bowen canceled this year's bonfire and said a decision will be made later whether to continue the tradition. It's only the second time in 90 years that the bonfire was canceled, the other was in 1963, after President Kennedy was assassinated. 2of4 11/19/99 11:31 AM Scenes of sorrow, caring and strength http: / /www.msnbc.com/news/336676.asp tNISNBC SPORTS' Football players rush to help The bonfire, meant to get students fired up for the football game against archrival University of Texas, attracts tens of thousands of spectators. This year's bonfire was to have been lit on Thanksgiving, the night before the game. Kris Henry, a Texas A &M senior who was helping oversee the building of the bonfire, said she was standing about 100 yards from the tower. Advertisement "I was looking at it, thinking it was getting up there. The next thing it was on the ground," Henry said "It happened in a split second, it was very fast. Those near said they heard a crack, but I didn't hear anything." Click here for Although the project is run by students, engineers deals! g p j Y ineers g and non - student adults always are at the site. The project hasn't always been trouble -free: One Quick Gifts n stack collapsed in 1994, and a second was built and C l if ignited. This year's structure would have included about 7,000 logs and reached 55 feet. The accident was the third disaster related to the campus this fall. • On Sept. 18, five people were killed in the crash of a plane used by the Ags Over Texas skydiving club, often used by Texas A &M students and alumni. On Oct. 10, six college students walking to a fraternity party about two miles west of campus were killed by a pickup truck whose driver had fallen asleep. Four were students from Baylor University, one was from Texas A &M and one from Southwest Texas State. © 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. TODAY'S TOP NEWS STORIES (STORY' FBI widens Chinese espionage probe tsroRYl House approves massive budget bill (sroRY! Scenes of sorrow, caring and strength tsroRYl Space ventures struggling in a dot -com world (STORY) Mounting clues EgyptAir crash was act of suicide 3 of4 11/19/99 11:31 AM Bizarre T•A &M accident kills 5 http: / /www.msnbc.com /news /336676.asp Co into the Future Buy online With Soledad O'Brien MSNBC Shopping. MILLENNIUM COVERAGE IN M$NBC OPINION GO! NC \VS BC H B Texas A &M accident kills 5 1 still trapped in collapse of wood stacked for annual bonfire $ k ' * t � 01' 3 Y , 5 f oar • tlefr 1 Jn Rescue workers try to • remove logs from a bonfire stack at College Station, Texas on Thursday. MSNBC STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Nov. 18 — At least five students were killed and 25 injured after a 40 -foot pyramid of logs being assembled for Texas A &M's traditional pregame bonfire collapsed early Thursday morning. Hours after the collapse, rescue workers were hearing moaning coming from the pile — raising hopes that there may be more survivors. At the time of the accident, dozens of students were climbing on the structure. i COMPLETE STORY Z 1 of 4 11/18/99 11:00 AM Bizarre Texas•A &M accident kills 5 http: / /www.msnbc.com /news /336676.asp 014, MIMIC � +°' GET ANY OF THESE A WINGSPN SERVICESONLIRE,. Checking Accounts v Go CLICK HERE ,,..� �, ;. - -'' 1 OL� W N GSPAN t HOU w � ��Q CASW 71 Information for • � BACK Healthy living THE WINGSPAN VISA • The structure was CRANES WERE REMOVING the logs gingerly, being built over one by one, in the search for victims who may still be the course of trapped in the unstable wreckage. weeks and had University officials said there were at least 35 w w ek about people from various fire and police departments working on removing logs from the structure. The two - thirds of its officials also said there were hundreds of other rescue planned 60 -foot workers on the scene. height when it The structure was being built over the course of gave way early weeks and had reached about two- thirds of its planned Thursday 60 -foot height when it gave way early Thursday morning. morning. Students gathered near the scene, a field on the northeast corner of the campus, holding hands and praying while the rescue efforts continued. SCENE OF DISBELIEF "The scene right now is a scene of disbelief," said Sallie Turner, editor of the Battalion, the student newspaper. "A lot of the students just feel it's surreal." Officials were performing head counts at the university's residence halls in an effort to account for everybody who may have been working on the structure. "We don't know how many students were on top of the pile," said Cynthia Lawson, a school spokeswoman. Twenty -five students were taken to hospitals, university President Ray Bowen said. "It's been so busy around here that the students brought here haven't had a lot of time to talk to the students about what happened," hospital spokesman Tim Ottinger told MSNBC. "The doctors are very busy trying to treat all the injured." BONFIRE IS AN ANNUAL TRADITION The bonfire, which draws tens of thousands of spectators, is an annual tradition. It began in 1909, when Texas A &M was still an all -male military academy, as a way to get students fired up for the big football game against archrival Texas. The only year the bonfire was not lit was 1963, following President John Kennedy's assassination. 2 of 4 11/18/99 11:00 AM Bizarre Texas A &M accident kills 5 http: / /www.msnbc.com /news /336676.asp An emotional George W. Bush said Thursday that his heart goes out to the parents of the dead students. "I just can't imagine what that means to have that happen to them," the governor said in an televised interview. "It's sad, it's tough," he said, his voice choked with emotion The large structure is built over the course of several weeks with multiple stacks of full -size logs put in place by cranes, tractors and crews of students. The structure is designed to twist inward and collapse on itself as it burns. Students who build the stack — even cutting the logs themselves — get safety training in advance and get input from professional engineers, officials said. Charles Hill of Crockett told WBAP -AM that his son, Caleb, was on the stack when it fell. "He happened to be very fortunate. He has only a broken arm and a broken nose. He fell about 50 feet," Hill said. "Caleb is very emotional and very scared. Being part of the tradition, he feels a responsibility for those who have been injured. In a sense his family has been hurt." Although school officials haven't made an official announcement, Turner said students believe this year's bonfire will be canceled and the tradition will be abolished because of the danger. "I've spoken to quite a few who say it's not worth it," she said. The bonfire ceremony usually features performances by the Aggie band, school cheers called "yells," and pep talks by administrators, football players and coaches. "Bonfire is one of most sacred tradition to Texas A &M's campus," Turner said. "It's one of the status symbols of our university. ... People say this is historic because this is the end of bonfire." This year's bonfire was supposed to be lit on Thanksgiving night, the eve of the Nov. 26 game against Texas. But the project hasn't always been trouble -free: One stack collapsed in 1994, and a second was built and ignited. At St. Joseph Regional Health Center, spokesman Al Guevara said five students with minor cuts and bruises were treated and released and seven suffering injuries ranging from fractures to internal trauma remained. 3 of 4 11/18/99 11:00 AM Bizarre Texas A &M accident kills 5 http: / /www.msnbc.com /news /336676.asp Advertisement An additional 13 students were taken to College Station Medical Center, where two were in serious shop condition with broken bones and 11 others were being MSNBC treated for minor injuries and were expected to be Click here for i released, said spokesman Joe Buser. special deals! The accident was the third disaster related to the 43,000- student Texas A &M this fall. On Sept. 18, five people were killed in the crash of a plane used by the Ags Over Texas skydiving club, go often used by Texas A &M University students and alumni. On Oct. 10, six college students walking to a fraternity party about two miles west of the campus were killed by a pickup truck driver who had fallen asleep, police said. The victims were four students from Baylor University, one from Texas A &M and one from Southwest Texas State. © 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. • S cuail Bizarre Texas A &M accident kills 4 (STORY! EgyptAir pilot struggled to take control of plane (STORYI Relief pilot's family, friends say suicide is unthinkable (sraRYl New evidence of ancient great flood (STOIYI Yeltsin cuts short Chechnya criticism • Would you recommend this story to other viewers? not at all 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 highly 0 BACK TO TOP. ± MSNBC is optimized for • MSNBC Terms, •Microsoft Internet Explorer Conditions and Privacy • Windows Media Player © 1999 snavorn Cover 1 Quick News News 1 Business 1 Sports 1 Local 1 Technology 1 Living & Travel 1 Health TV News 1 Opinions I Weather 1 Shop@MSNBC 1 MSN 1 Comics 1 Find 1 About MSNBC 1 Help 1 Index Cool Tools 1 Jobs 1 Write Us 1 Advertising on MSNBC 1 Y2K Statement 1 Terms, Conditions, and Privacy �' Fine help %Yri'e Lr 3.0 4 of 4 11/18/99 11:00 AM MSN Channel Page http:// www. msnbc.com /msn /msnnews_front.asp Home Hotmail Search Shopping Money People & Chat I No more aimless searching I l� to find what to buy. MSNBC News qo to msn.com News Home International News U.S. News Special Reports In Today's Newspapers aroi EgyptAir pilot struggled to take control of plane New information from the flight data recorder Wednesday night indicates what's thought to be a struggle for control in the final moments of EgyptAir Flight 990. File photo of EgyptAir Boeing 767 ON COVERAGE MSNBC.COM R pilot's family, say MSNBC.COM p y� y suicide is unthinkable Comdex Fall '99: A ri Family members, friends and colleagues of Gameel al- Batouty new world order described him as a devoted family man and devout Muslim who would never commit suicide. Business: Latest from MSNBC, CNBC 4 Texas students killed in log mishap and Wall Street sa At least four college students were killed and several others injured Journal Thursday after logs they were stacking for an annual bonfire event Weather: Check collapsed and crushed them, officials said. your local forecast White House, GOP cut a budget deal co Capping marathon talks, congressional Republicans and the White House cleared the last known obstacle Wednesday night to agreement on a $390 billion budget bill that includes a small across - the -board spending cut. IRA agrees to join disarmament panel In the latest sign of a possible breakthrough in Northern Ireland's Show me my local peace talks, the province's main Protestant and Catholic political news, sports and parties softened their stances on thorny issues that have held up the weather on Good Friday agreement. MSNBC Protest continues at Decatur school DAILY FEATURES co The Rev. Jesse Jackson, undaunted by his arrest a day earlier, ON MSNBC.COM continued leading protests Wednesday against the expulsion of several 'Scoop': No hot - list students accused in a brawl, while supporters held a sit -in and P': demanded a meeting with school officials. status for Ventura dolls Old and new messages for E.T. Live video: Watch Twenty -five years after humanity sent its first signal intended for alien news as it breaks civilizations, two groups of entrepreneurs are turning the effort into a Best video stories paying proposition. from NBC, MSNBC The Fed's interest rate hike ON sLnr€. When it sometimes felt as if the global economy were on the verge of a massive nervous breakdown last summer, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates three times. The U.S. economy didn't even hiccup. After the latest 25- basis -point rate hike, the federal funds rate now stands at 5.50 percent, exactly where it was before the chaos of last summer. The death of Ultimate Fighting ON surt. Ultimate Fighting ought to be a great American sport. Instead, cable companies, Sen. John McCain, and a squeamish public are 1 of 2 11/18/99 8:14 AM 4 Texas students killed in log mishap http: / /www.msnbc.com /news /336676.asp . ... Go into the Future These Pr11 � With Soledr�t O'Brien Are GOOD?' MILLENNIUM COVERAGE IN M$NBC OPimo t NCvv B+ HSlME 4 Texas students killed in log mishap Others injured in collapse of wood stacked for annual bonfire ASSOCIATED PRESS COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Nov. 18 — At least four college students were killed and several others injured Thursday after logs they were stacking for an annual bonfire event collapsed and crushed them, officials said. As many as 50 Texas A &M University students were on top of , the stack of logs when the accident happened early this morning, according to university officials. R COMPLETE STORY ADVERTISING IASINIC .,.°^""" Checking Accounts �. Go' vvlr�csl GET ANY of THESE ''.'„,'",7 SERVICES SERVICES ONLINE,,. g Shopping for a t om..` -i l Start mart. r `� Rea1stateom .9` 117`s' 5% ail Click here for free property reports. THE WINGSPAN VISA 1 of 3 11/18/99 8:09 AM 4 Texas students killed in log mishap http: / /www.msnbc.com /news /336676.asp UNIVERSITY SPOKESMAN Cynthia Lawson said that up to 16 students had been taken to St. Joseph Regional Health Center, according to the Bryan- College Station Eagle newspaper. At the hospital, spokesman Bill Hyer said the hospital was expecting more victims to be brought there. Hyer said there were reports that more students were still trapped in the log pile, but he refused to release further details. University officials are performing head counts at the dormitories, trying to account for everyone who may have been working on a bonfire structure when it collapsed. ANNUAL SYMBOLIC BONFIRE A bonfire is built each year by A &M students to symbolize their burning desire to beat the University of Texas. The accident was the third disaster related to Texas A &M this fall. On Sept. 18, five people were killed in the crash of a plane used by the Ags Over Texas skydiving club, often used by Texas A &M University students and alumni. On Oct. 10, six college students walking to a fraternity party about two miles west of the campus were killed by a pickup truck driver who had fallen asleep, police said. The victims were four students from Baylor University, one from Texas A &M and one from Southwest Texas State. © 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. • rears Tok am MUM (sroRrl EgyptAir pilot struggled to take control of plane (STOIYI Relief pilot's family, friends say suicide is unthinkable ;sro,vI New evidence of ancient great flood (sroRrl West criticizes Chechnya campaign (mini 4 Texas students killed in log mishap 2 of 3 11/18/99 8:09 AM ABCNEWS.com : 11 Dead in College Bonfire Tragedy http: / /abcnews.go.com/ sections/ us/DailyNews/bonfire991119.html GO.com GO Kids GO Family GO Money I GO Sports GO Home l; NEWS • • ABOUT GO NETWORK 1 SIGN IN FREE E-MAIL 0 ABCNEWS COm • WEB NN t y 1Tit7f5f' READY WHEN YOU HE (KtiERE.SAVEl 'TO5 amazottcon Trying To Discover Why . HOME . NEWS SUMMARY 11 Students Crushed in A ' Texas A &M Tragedy . POLITICS All .' Workers clear debris from the site where a bonfire under construction fell . WORLD . � ° _° t killed 11 students early Thursday ■ . BUSINESS'.:° . morning in College Station, Texas. (Er Gay /AP Photo) . TECHNOLOGY . SCIENCE . HEALTH &LIVING AC l CLICK . TRAVEL . ESPN SPORTS . ENTERTAINMENT . WEATHER.com By Ste Hawkins LIVE EVENTS The Associated Press CHAT: Tradition . REFERENC turns tragic. LIVE . LOCAL COLLEGE S T A T I O N, Texas, Nov. 19 —The NOW ABCNEWS ON TV 100 -foot center pole that served as the central US HEADLINES support for the annual Texas A &M University 11 Students Dead in bonfire will be the focus of an investigation r------ sidebar Bonfire Collapse into why the 40-foot pyramid of List of the America Stuck in VlCtin'1S Traffic wired - together logs collapsed, university I V US Diplomats Urge officials said. Caution in EgvptAir Crash Witnesses and some survivors said they heard the Life in Prison for center pole — the structure's key component — crack, Jasper Convict Gun- Related Death perhaps under the crush of timber. But university Rate Drops officials cautioned that it could be weeks before a "I heard a final determination is made on what caused the cracking ABC collapse. sound. It was Eleven present and former students like thunder. It �`' -u were killed and 28 other injured, five shoved me into ShoppingGuide c Three of those students are the wood, but p on life support, hospital officials said the stack fell .SPECIAL SERVICES vi $a William Davis' condition away from me, . Shopping Guide ABCNEWS' Mike worsened from serious to critical and I was . Homework Help Von Fremd overnight, St. Joseph Regional lucky. Just reports from Texas A &M on the Medical Center officials said. He and very, very memorial service. fellow students Chad Hutchinson and " . SEARCH RealVideo IUCk Ai ABC2000 (download J.J. Washam were in critical Caleb Hill, Texas A &M RealPlaver) condition and on life support, sophomore ABC.com officials said. . THE CENTURY WEB L I N K The last two bodies buried in the rubble were . EMAIL Texas A &M ABCNEWS.com recovered around 2:15 a.m. today some 23 hours University 1 of 5 11/19/99 11:17 AM ABCNEWS.com : 11 Dead in College Bonfire Tragedy http: / /abcnews.go.com/ sections/ us/DailyNews/bonfire991119.html .J SEND PAGE TO after the structure collapsed. Moments later, crews A FRIEND said they were finished moving logs and searching for .TOOLS AND bodies. HELPERS Examining the Center Poles Rusty Thompson, the bonfire adviser, said the center pole consisted of two poles spliced together. The investigation will focus on that splice, he said at a news conference today. "From students I talked to, all the sounds were pretty much combined. It all happened so suddenly. They didn't hear anything well in advance," Thompson said. The large structure is built over several weeks with multiple stacks of full -size logs put in place by cranes, tractors and students. The structure — which resembles a tiered wedding cake — is designed to twist inward and collapse on itself as it burns. The center pole consists of two long telephone poles spliced together end to end and buried 15 feet deep on one end. It's held in place by guy wires. The pile collapsed as Caleb Hill was perched atop the pile. "I heard a cracking sound. It was like thunder," said the sophomore, who suffered a broken nose and broken wrist. "It shoved me into the wood, but the stack fell away from me, and I was lucky. Just very, very lucky." Future of Tradition Unsure As the cleanup operation continued into the early morning today, about a dozen students gathered in a prayer chain, their singing of hymns the only sound aside from cranes working to pick the logs from the stack. Former President George Bush, whose presidential library is at Texas A &M, was among thousands who attended a 40- minute memorial service Thursday night at the campus of 43,000, some 90 miles northwest of Houston. Meanwhile, Texas A &M president Ray Bowen canceled this year's bonfire and said a decision will be made later whether to continue the tradition. "We're going to analyze the future of the bonfire as part of our tradition and part of history. We're going to see that this horror never visits our campus again," Bowen said today. "Our whole community is deeply hurt and harmed." It's only the second time in 90 years that the 2 of 5 11/19/99 11:17 AM ABCNEWS.com : 11 Dead in College Bonfire Tragedy http: / /abcnews.go.com/ sections/ us/DailyNews/bonfire991119.html bonfire was canceled, the other was in 1963, after President Kennedy was assassinated. The bonfire, meant to get students fired up for the football game against archrival University of Texas, attracts tens of thousands of spectators. This year's bonfire was to have been lit on Thanksgiving, the night before the game. Kris Henry, a Texas A &M senior who was helping oversee the building of the bonfire, said she was standing about 100 yards from the tower. "I was looking at it, thinking it was getting up there. The next thing it was on the ground," Ms. Henry said. "It happened in a split second, it was very fast. Those near said they heard a crack, but I didn't hear anything." Stack Collapsed in 1994 Although the project is run by students, engineers and non - student adults always are at the site. The project hasn't always been trouble -free: One stack collapsed in 1994, and a second was built and ignited. This year's structure would have included about 7,000 logs and reached 55 feet. The accident was the third disaster related to the campus this fall. On Sept. 18, five people were killed in the crash of a plane used by the Ags Over Texas skydiving club, often used by Texas A &M students and alumni. On Oct. 10, six college students walking to a fraternity party about two miles west of campus were killed by a pickup truck whose driver had fallen asleep. Four were students from Baylor University, one was from Texas A &M and one from Southwest Texas State. 3 of 5 11/19/99 11:17 AM ABCNEWS.com : 11 Dead in College Bonfire Tragedy http: / /abcnews.go.com/ sections /us /DailyNews/bonfire991119.html • Victims' Names Released Following are the names of the 11 students killed and the 28 injured who were treated at area hospitals. Killed • Jerry Self, sophomore engineering technology major, Arlington, Texas • Michael Ebanks, freshman, hometown not given • Miranda Adams, sophomore, Pasadena, Texas • Jeremy Frampton, senior psychology major, Turlock, Calif. • Bryan McClain, freshman agriculture major, San Antonio • Christopher Breen, Austin, Texas • Chad Powell, sophomore computer engineering major, Keller, Texas • Nathan Scott West, sophomore oceanography major, Bellaire, Texas • Jamie Hand, freshman environmental design major, Henderson, Texas • Lucas Kimmel, freshman biomedical science major, Corpus Christi, Texas • Christopher Lee Heard, freshman pre- engineering major, Houston Injured At St. Joseph Regional Health Center • Tim Kurlee, critical condition • J.J. Washam, critical condition • Chad Hutchinson, critical condition • William Davis, critical condition • Lannie Hayes, fair condition • Will Harlan, fair condition • Milton Thiel, fair condition • Jody Jacobs, treated and released • Leslie Graham, treated and released • Britt Henley, treated and released • Caleb Hill, treated and released • William Lickman, treated and released At College Station Medical Center • Nate Atkinson, treated and released • Dominic Braus, serious condition • Jennifer Callaway, treated and released • John Costock, critical condition • Clayton Frady, self- admitted • Brandon Allen Jozwiak, treated and released • Paul "Alex" Jones, treated and released • John Kramer, treated and released • Amy McLeod, treated and released • Mandy Nakai, treated and released • Matthew Robbins, treated and released • Holly Rotenberry, treated and released • Lauren Scanlan, treated and released • Bruce Unger, treated and released • Derrek Woodley, treated and released • Jeremy Woorley, treated and released — The Associated Press 4 of 5 1 1/19/99 11:17 AM ABCNEWS.com : 11 Dead in College Bonfire Tragedy http: / /abcnews.go.com/ sections /us/DailyNews/bonfire991119.html Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. SEARCH ABCNEWS.com FOR MORE ON ... READY WHEN YOU ARE'' Copyright ©1999 ABC News Internet Ventures. Click here for Terms AMIE of Use and Privacy Policy and Internet Safety Information applicable to this site. 5 of 5 11/19/99 11:17 AM ABCNEWS.com : 11 Students Dead in Bonfire Collapse http: / /www.abcnews.go.com/ sections/ us/DailyNews/bonfire991119.html • el GO Kids I GO Family I GO Money I GO Sports I GO Home { ABOUT GO NETWORK SIGN IN FREE E -MAIL 0 ABCNE • WEB Tradition Turns to Tragedy Bonfire Logs Collapse at c Texas A &M; 11 Dead $ x 4 . " Texas A &M students and rescue workers gather at the base of the , collapsed bonfire stack as the search continued for victims in College Station, Texas. (Pat Sullivan /AP Photo) t � # re 0 ABCNEWS.com LIVE EVENTS Nov. 19 — Workers have yet to recover a body ('HAT: Tradition turns tragic. LIVE amid a massive pile of collapsed logs at Texas Now A &M, where 11 students were crushed to death while preparing for the school's annual bonfire. sidebar long-running tradition turned deadly when the Names' us HEADLINES The lon g g Y Names 11 Students Dead i n e. r 40 -foot, unlighted tower of logs Released Bonfire Collapse , US Diplomats Urge i ; collapsed early Thursday in College Caution in EgyptAir F, Station, Texas. Crash At least 28 students were injured, Life in Prison for f of whom remained in critical Jasper Convict AUDIO Gun- Related Death V • ea condition early today. Status report Rate Drops ABCNEWS' Mike Two students who had been seen on Texas A &M Bishops to Rein in Von Fremd trapped in the rubble Thursday Colleges reports from pP Y accident. LIVE Texas A &M on the afternoon were confirmed dead NOW bonfire accident. g the night. g d thi ht. One of the bodies (download was pulled from the debris early WEB LINK RealPlaver) today and identified as Michael Texas A &M University Ebanks, a freshman. Kem Bennett, an engineer working with the rescue crew, said efforts to retrieve the body of the other student, a woman, would continue through the night. A wave of grief settled over the campus of 43,000, some 90 miles northwest of Houston. Thousands turned out for a memorial service Thursday night, including former President George Bush, whose presidential library is at Texas A &M. "For the Texas Aggie family and the world, this has been a day of unspeakable grief and sorrow," A &M president Ray Bowen said. "We're all trying to cope with this tremendous loss of life and the pain and suffering." 1 of 4 11/19/99 1:48 AM ABCNEWS.com : 11 Students Dead in Bonfire Collapse http: / /www.abcnews.go.com/ sections/ us/DailyNews/bonfire991119.html • Rescuers Proceed Slowly Between 60 and 70 students were believed to be on the giant log pile when it trembled and crashed about 2:30 a.m. The bonfire faculty adviser, Rusty Thompson, said students who watched the logs collapse told him "there was just a sudden movement. Five to seven seconds and it was on the ground." "It's like Pickup Sticks. These logs are all intertwined," Fire Department spokesman Bart Humphreys said. The death toll stood at nine for much of the afternoon. But the painstaking work continued into the night as rescuers finally reached two other students who had been crushed to death and were seen in the debris. "We take it one log at a time," said Kem Bennett, director of a state rescue unit. "They're wired three together in stacks, so we have to cut the wire and move them one at a time. So it's a lengthy process." Rescuers used sensitive sound- detection equipment to listen for moaning or tapping from the enormous pile of collapsed logs, and heard scratching noises that led them to believe there were victims trapped. No Bonfire This Year The bonfire was scheduled for Thanksgiving night, on the eve of the school's big game against archrival University of Texas. The mammoth structure — about 55 feet high when completed — is usually built over the course of several weeks. Construction on this year's pile began Nov. 6. Students who build the bonfire cut the logs themselves and get safety training from professionals, officials said. They are called "potheads" because of the hard hats they wear during construction. Several layers of logs are put in place by cranes, tractors and students. When completed, the pyramid of logs is designed to twist inward and collapse as it burns. A tradition at the school since 1909, the annual conflagration is dear to many students. Those who build the bonfire often work around the clock until it is finished. "Students fail classes, students give up everything to work on the bonfire and to put in these hours at the bonfire," said Sally Turner, who works at the Texas A &M student newspaper, The Battalion. This year's bonfire was canceled after the tragedy. The only other time students have forgone the bonfire was in 1963, after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Will the Tradition Live On? After hearing of the disaster, some students gathered near the scene of the collapse, a field on the northeast 2 of 4 11/19/99 1:48 AM ABCNEWS.com : 11 Students Dead in Bonfire Collapse http: / /www.abcnews.go.com/ sections/ us/DailyNews/bonfire991119.html corner of the campus. As rescue efforts continued, some students stood and prayed, hands clasped together. Patrick Freshwater, a "pothead," reacted with disbelief as he helped clear away logs after the accident. "I've never seen anything like this," Freshwater said. "It's something you don't ever want to feel. I went to my class and there was nobody there. The teacher wasn't even there, because no one can go to class when this is going on." The students' deaths could call into question the school's venerable tradition. The bonfires, which began when Texas A &M was an all -male military academy, usually draw tens of thousand of spectators each year. But university President Ray Bowen, who received notes of sympathy from all over the country, said he didn't know if the tradition would be discontinued. "It's a very important tradition to us, but those decisions must be made at a calmer time," he said. Victims' Names Released Following are the names of 10 students killed and a partial list of those injured who were treated at area hospitals. One other student was reported killed, but a name has not yet been released. Killed Jerry Self, sophomore engineering technology major, Arlington, Texas Michael Ebanks, freshman, hometown unknown Jeremy Frampton, senior psychology major, Turlock, Calif. Bryan McClain, freshman agriculture major, San Antonio • Christopher Breen, Austin, Texas Chad Powell, sophomore computer engineering major, Keller, Texas Nathan Scott West, sophomore oceanography major, Bellaire, Texas Jamie Hand, freshman environmental design major, Henderson, Texas Lucas Kimmel, freshman biomedical science major, Corpus Christi, Texas • Christopher Lee Heard, freshman pre- engineering major, Houston Injured At St. Joseph Regional Health Center • Tim Kurlee, critical condition J.J. Washam, critical condition Chad Hutchinson, critical condition William Davis, poor condition Lannie Hayes, fair condition Will Harlan, fair condition • Milton Thiel, fair condition Jody Jacobs, treated and released Leslie Graham, treated and released • Britt Henley, treated and released Caleb Hill, treated and released William Lickman, treated and released At College Station Medical Center 3 of4 11/19/99 1:48 AM ABCNEWS.com : 11 Students Dead in Bonfire Collapse http: / /www.abcnews.go.com /sections /us /DailyNews/bonfire991119.html At College Station Medical Center Officials have not released the names of 14 students treated at the hospital. One student was in critical condition. Two students were admitted with broken bones and severe cuts and were listed in serious condition. Eleven students suffering minor cuts and bruises were treated and released. — The Associated Press READY WHEN YOU ARE"` Copyright ©1999 ABC News Internet Ventures. Click here for Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Internet Safety Information applicable to this site. 4 of 4 11/19/99 1:48 AM ABCNEWS.com : Texas A &M Students Crushed to Death http: / /abcnews.go.com/ sections/ us/DailyNews/bonfire991118.html * a• GO Kids I GO Family I GO Money I GO Sports I GO Home ABOUT GO NETWORK SIGN IN FREE E -MAIL ABCNE • NEB r; University Students Crushed ,, Texas A &M Students `e ; Were Building Bonfire; �, ,� *; , ,', At Least Nine Killed 4. Texas A &M students and rescue workers gather at the base of the collapsed bonfire stack as the search continues for victims in College Station, Texas. (Pat Sullivan /AP Photo) By Michael Gracyzk AUDIO The Associated Press Status report COLLEGE S T A T I O N, Texas, Nov. 18 — A on Texas A &M 40 -foot pyramid of logs being assembled for accident. LIVE Texas A &M's annual bonfire collapsed early NOW. today while dozens of students were working w E B LINK us HEADLINES on it. At least nine students were killed and 28 Texas A &M University C olle ed Students injured. Authorities said six bodies were taken from Conviction in Jasper the rubble. And Kem Bennett, Case director of Texas Task Force I, a Exerts Reviewing I state -run rescue unit, said he saw at Flight 990 Tape least three more bodies in the Bishops to Rein in Catholic Colleges wreckage. Focus Turns to V 00 Bart Humphreys, a fire department 0- -1 of ABCNEWS' Art spokesman, had said earlier that five Rascon reports from m T exas A &M students were unaccounted for. T on the bonfire In the hours after the 2:30 a.m. RealVideo collapse, rescuers pulled four students (download from the rubble alive, Humphreys RealPlayer) said. One student wasn't pulled free until more than six hours later. Even after that, Cynthia Lawson, a spokeswoman for the university, said crews using sound detectors could hear "moaning and tapping sounds," leading them to believe one or more students was still trapped alive. But the rescuers stopped hearing sounds after 11 a.m., she said. Cranes were removing logs gingerly, one by one, in the search for more students. "Every piece of wood in that pile is unstable and every piece of wood that moves affects other pieces of lumber," Humphreys said. Students Gather at Accident Scene 1 of 4 11/18/99 3:14 PM ABCNEWS.com : Texas A &M Students Crushed to Death http: / /abcnews.go.com /sections/ us/DailyNews/bonfire991118.html Students Gather at Accident Scene Students who had been looking forward to the huge bonfire, a tradition since 1909 to get fans ready for the football game against archrival University of Texas, were instead in mourning. Some gathered near the scene, a field on the northeast corner of the campus, holding hands and praying while the rescue efforts continued. "The scene right now is a scene of disbelief," said Sallie Turner, editor of the Battalion, the student newspaper. "A lot of the students just feel it's surreal." University President Ray Bowen said the 28 students' injuries vary and some were in "quite serious shape." At least three were in critical condition. Officials conducted head counts at residence halls in an effort to = account for everybody B 4�" who may have been working on the w structure. Some 60 to 70 students were believed to be on it when it fell. Rusty Thompson, assistant director of As many as 60 to 70 Texas A &M university students were on top of the the Memorial Student stack of logs when it collapsed early Center and the bonfire this morning, according to university officials. (ABCNEWS.com/ Magellan faculty adviser, said Geographix) students told him "there was just a sudden movement. Five to seven seconds and it was on the ground." Gov. George W. Bush choked up when he discussed the accident in a CNN interview. "I just can't imagine what that means to have that happen to them," he said. "It's sad, it's tough." Students Trained to Build Stack The bonfire tradition, which draws tens of thousands of spectators, began when Texas A &M was still an all -male military academy. The only year the bonfire was not lit was 1963, following President Kennedy's assassination. This year's bonfire was scheduled for Thanksgiving night, the eve of the game. The event was canceled after the accident. The large structure is built over the course of several weeks with multiple stacks of full -size logs put in place by cranes, tractors and students. The structure is designed to twist inward and collapse on itself as it burns. The stack of logs would have reached 55 feet when completed; at the time of the collapse today, it was 2 of 4 11/18/99 3:14 PM ABCNEWS.com : Texas A &M Students Crushed to Death http: / /abcnews.go.com/ sections/ us/DailyNews/bonfire991118.html about 40 feet high. Students who build the stack — even cutting the logs themselves — get safety training and get input from professional engineers, officials said. Charles Hill of Crockett, Texas, told WBAP -AM that his son, Caleb, was on the stack when it fell. "He happened to be very fortunate. He has only a broken arm and a broken nose. He fell about 50 feet," Hill said. "Caleb is very emotional and very scared. Being part of the tradition, he feels a responsibility for those who have been injured. In a sense his family has been hurt." Turner, the student editor, said many students think the tradition should be abolished. "I've spoken to quite a few who say it's not worth it," she said. "Bonfire is one of most sacred traditions to Texas A &M's campus," Turner said. "It's one of the status symbols of our university. ... People say this is historic because this is the end of bonfire." An Annual Tradition Bowen said he didn't know what will be done after this year. "It's a very important tradition to us, but those decisions must be made at a calmer time," he said. The project hasn't always been trouble -free: One stack collapsed in 1994, and a second was built and ignited. At St. Joseph Regional Health Center, spokesman Al Guevara said five students were treated and released and seven suffering injuries ranging from fractures to internal trauma remained. Thirteen others were taken to College Station Medical Center, where two were in serious condition with broken bones and 11 had minor injuries. The accident was the third disaster related to the 43,000- student Texas A &M this fall. On Sept. 18, five people were killed in the crash of a plane used by the Ags Over Texas skydiving club, often used by Texas A &M students and alumni. On Oct. 10, six college students walking to a fraternity party about two miles west of campus were killed by a pickup truck driver who had fallen asleep, police said. Four were students from Baylor University, one was from Texas A &M and one from Southwest Texas State. Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. j READY WREN YOU ARE ' , 3 of 4 11/18/99 3:14 PM ABCNEWS.com : Six Texas A &M Students Crushed to Death http: / /abcnews.go.com/ sections/ us/DailyNews/bonfire991118.htm1 * GO Kids I GO Family I GO Money I GO Sports I GO Home A 112 I ABOUT GO NETWORK SIGN IN FREE E -MAIL O ABCNE WEB University Students Crushed Texas A &M Students Air Were Building Bonfire; At Least Six Killed A 40 -foot pyramid of Togs being assembled for Texas A &M's traditional pregame bonfire collapsed early today while dozens of students were climbing on it. At least six students were killed and several others injured. (ABCNEWS.com) The Associated Press AUDIO COLLEGE S T A T I O N, Texas, Nov. 18 — A Jonathan Kraatz pyramid of logs being assembled for gives a report on 40 -foot pY g g the Texas A &M Texas A &M's annual bonfire collapsed early bonfire accident. today while dozens of students were climbing WEB LINK on it. At least six students were killed and 28 Texas A &M University UT , .AD 1Y injured. Experts Reviewing 4 In the hours after light 990 Tape � Conviction in Jasper the 2:30 a.m. collapse, case rescuers pulled four C ollruseghe ed Stu dents students from the < : Bisho•s to Re i texas rubble alive, said Bart at o is ol eges Humphreys, a fire .cue Turns to � CGBlege Stahl' department •1 of �. Austin spokesman. One - student wasn't pulled free until more than six hours later. rr. Even after that, Cynthia Lawson, a As many as 50 Texas A &M university students were on top of the stack of spokeswoman for the logs when it collapsed early this university, sa crews morning, according to university officials. (ABCNEWS.com/ Magellan could hear moaning Geography) and tapping sounds," leading them to believe one or more students was still trapped. At midmorning, cranes were removing logs gingerly, one by one, in the search for more students. "Every piece of wood in that pile is unstable an d every piece of wood that moves affects other pieces of lumber," Humphreys said. Students who had been looking forward to the huge bonfire, a tradition since 1909 to get fans ready for the football game against archrival University of 1 of 3 11/18/99 12:33 PM ABCNEWS.com : Six Texas A &M Students Crushed to Death http: / /abcnews.go.com/ sections/ us/DailyNews/bonfire991118.html for the football game against archrival University of Texas, were instead in mourning. `Scene of Disbelief' Some gathered near the scene, a field on the northeast corner of the campus, holding hands and praying while the rescue efforts continued. "The scene right now is a scene of disbelief," said Sallie Turner, editor of the Battalion, the student newspaper. "A lot of the students just feel it's surreal." Twenty -five students were taken to hospitals, university President Ray Bowen said. He said there were four dead, and a law enforcement source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said at least one other person was dead inside the wreckage. Later, authorities gave the death toll as six. Officials conducted head counts at residence halls in an effort to account for everybody who may have been working on the structure. Some 60 to 70 students were believed to be on it when it fell. Rusty Thompson, assistant director of the Memorial Student Center and the bonfire faculty adviser, said students told him "there was just a sudden movement. Five to seven seconds and it was on the ground." Gov. George W. Bush choked up when he discussed the accident in a CNN interview. "I just can't imagine what that means to have that happen to them," he said. "It's sad, it's tough." Students Trained to Build Stack The bonfire tradition, which draws tens of thousands of spectators, began when Texas A &M was still an all -male military academy. The only year the bonfire was not lit was 1963, following President Kennedy's assassination. This year's bonfire was scheduled for Thanksgiving night, the eve of the game. The event was canceled after the accident. The large structure is built over the course of several weeks with multiple stacks of full -size logs put in place by cranes, tractors and students. The structure is designed to twist inward and collapse on itself as it burns. The stack of logs would have reached 55 feet when completed; at the time of the collapse today, it was about 40 feet high. Students who build the stack — even cutting the logs themselves — get safety training and get input from professional engineers, officials said. Charles Hill of Crockett, Texas, told WBAP -AM that his son, Caleb, was on the stack when it fell. "He happened to be very fortunate. He has only a broken arm and a broken nose. He fell about 50 feet," Hill said. "Caleb is very emotional and very scared. Being part of the tradition, he feels a responsibility for 2 of 3 11/18/99 12:33 PM ABCNEWS.com : Six Texas A &M Students Crushed to Death http: / /abcnews.go.com /sections/ us/DailyNews/bonfire991118.html those who have been injured. In a sense his family has been hurt." Turner, the student editor, said many students think the tradition should be abolished. "I've spoken to quite a few who say it's not worth it," she said. "Bonfire is one of most sacred traditions to Texas A &M's campus," Turner said. "It's one of the status symbols of our university.... People say this is historic because this is the end of bonfire." An Annual Tradition Bowen said he didn't know what will be done after this year. "It's a very important tradition to us, but those decisions must be made at a calmer time," he said. The project hasn't always been trouble -free: One stack collapsed in 1994, and a second was built and ignited. At St. Joseph Regional Health Center, spokesman Al Guevara said five students were treated and released and seven suffering injuries ranging from fractures to internal trauma remained. Thirteen others were taken to College Station Medical Center, where two were in serious condition with broken bones and 11 had minor injuries. The accident was the third disaster related to the 43,000- student Texas A &M this fall. On Sept. 18, five people were killed in the crash of a plane used by the Ags Over Texas skydiving club, often used by Texas A &M students and alumni. On Oct. 10, six college students walking to a fraternity party about two miles west of campus were killed by a pickup truck driver who had fallen asleep, police said. Four were students from Baylor University, one was from Texas A &M and one from Southwest Texas State. Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. READY WHEN YOU ARE Copyright ©1999 ABC News Internet Ventures. Click here for Terms MIMI of Use and Privacy Policy and Internet Safety Information appli tothis site. 3 of 3 11/18/99 12:33 PM ABCNEWS.com wysiwyg : / /27/http: / /abcnews.go.com/ ATHER: Choose city al 0 if J ild search • $ 0 ABCNEWS ft A n DID /VIDEO INDEX DAILY NEWS OUIZ tI FREE ► • ABCNEWS ON T AUDIO: Status report on EgyptAir Flight 990. LIVE NOW • WEB E AUDIO: From ABCNEWS Radio: News, Sports. and more. LIVE NOW V CHAT: Barbie turns 40! Noon ET' E" L Good Comment America! LIVE NOW Students Crushed f4INTERACTIVE exas at College Rally e uureo are ', At least four college students were college stator killed at Texas A &M university this „ „ tin 0 morning and several others injured h�itte tt:iuns4 €pstalr after logs they were stacking for an , , annual bonfire event collapsed and TEXAS TRAGEDy crushed them. More students may be trapped under the rubble. ! Politics Challenge Lenny Kicks up Nasty Winds Packing 150 mph winds, Hurricane Lenny batters St. Croix on its way through the Caribbean. The storm, just shy of a Category 5, has S A rf claimed at least four lives. Meteorologists don't think it will hit the . United States. ► Budget Deal Heads to House Vote How ma , ' The House is expected to vote as early as today on a $390 billion Olympic gold meda ls shas Carl budget bill that caps a year of intense political battles. Both the White medals House and congressional Republicans are claiming victory after a deal Lewis won ? . LOCAL NEWS was announced Wednesday night. k1 O. 0 One 0 Three orld News THURSDAY Seven . GMA I Know That Face ... How? 0 i` 20/20 When it comes to recognizing mom, or any face, we've got O Nine Nightiine computers beat. But scientists are making progress. Take a test to h_ ` Week see how well your brain recognizes faces. M► Submit Vote World News Now !Weekend More Evidence Points to Cockpit Problem Nora scientific poll; p for entertainment only aS . ecials Evidence from EgyptAir Flight 99 0's flight data recorder appears to support the theory that there was a conflict in the cockpit, investigators . say. Egyptians are increasingly vocal in their objections to the theory, D.L. Hughley, star of t which holds that the plane's co -pilot intentionally plunged the jet into ABC show The Nughle the sea. E1 Pl. joins Sam on Friday at 12:30 p.m. ET. He will discussing the topic Moderate Drinking Cuts Stroke Risk the representation of The biggest study of its kind finds that moderate drinking can reduce a minorities on televisio man's risk of stroke by as much as 20 percent. Researchers say the Click here to ask your 0 results could also apply to women. F •uestions and view past shows . i of 3 11/18/99 7:55 AM ABCNEWS.com : University Students Crushed http: / /abcnews.go.com/ sections/ us/DailyNews/bonfire991118.html GO Kids 1 GO Family 1 GO Money 1 GO Sports I GO Home I ABOUT GO NETWORK SIGN IN FREE E -MAIL ABCNE • WEB 777 77," niversity to • ents rus e • Texas A &M Students Were Building Bonfire The Associated Press COLLEGE STATION,Texas,Nov.18 —A large stack of logs assembled for a college's pregame bonfire collapsed early today, killing at least three students and injuring many others. Dozens of Texas A &M University { students were on top of the logs when the Texas accident happened early this morning, wive Station according to Austin 0 university officials. As many as 75 students had been transported to St. Joseph Regional US HEADLINES Health Center, More Evidence of j As many as 50 Texas A &M university EgyptAir Pilot students were on top of the stack of according to the Problem Togs when the accident happened early Bryan - College Station this morning, according to university College Students Crushed officials. (ABCNEWS.com/ Magellan Eagle newspaper. Focus Turns to Geographix) At the hospital, Co -Pilot spokesman Bill Hyer said there were reports that more First Case Filed from j students were still trapped in the structure's rubble, Crash but he declined to release further details. Jury Deliberates Dragging ()lath Case Officials were performing head counts at the university's residence halls in an effort to account for everybody who may have been working on the structure. A bonfire is built each year by A &M students to show their burning desire to beat archrival University of Texas in football. The tradition goes back 90 years. The accident was the third disaster related to Texas A &M this fall. On Sept. 18, five people were killed in the crash of a plane used by the Ags Over Texas skydiving club, often used by Texas A &M University students and alumni. On Oct. 10, six college students walking to a fraternity party about two miles west of the campus were killed by a pickup truck driver who had fallen asleep, police said. The victims were four students from Baylor University, one from Texas A &M and one from Southwest Texas State. omewor e p 1 of 2 11/18/99 7:57 AM ABCNEWS.com wysiwyg : / /29/http: / /abcnews.go.com/ ATHER: Choose city l 6 If search � 0 ABCNEWS A D10 /' ' IMOE' J DAI TI O yl ' , -E;t. ' =r_ m'i 0 ABCNEWS ON T L AUDIO: Status report on Texas A &M accident. LIVE NOW • WEB AUDIO: From ABCNEWS Radio: News Sports. and more. LIVE NOW V BOARDS: Are kids using media too much? LIVE NOW E BOARDS: Texas A &M bonfire tragedy. LIVE NOW '' Deadly ts� INTERA Tilt w o Pickup Sticks ■ e u ure o are Nine students are confirmed dead - `..'' and 28 injured at Texas A &M F _: Un after logs they were sponsored by ` ' - stacking for an annual bonfire 1 . ,, collapsed and crushed them. At T E XAS IRA least five students are stet unaccounted for and at least three of the injured are in critical condition. ► PO ttjes Challen Veteran Politico Set to Run Hillary Bid ABCNEWS sources say the as- yet - undeclared Senate campaign of first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton is expected to be managed by veteran New York operative Bill DeBlasio, who currently works for L Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo. ■ Do you believe tha Third Man Guilty in Dragging Death Case minorities are • A Texas jury has convicted Shawn Allen Berry of capital murder for the fairly represented dragging death of a black man and sentenced him to life in prison. Two on television? LOCAL NEWS co- defendants have been sentenced to death. ► O Yes TFIU RSDAY O No E w7 L ,�r�� I Know That Face ... How? r S ubmit Vote =Li 71 When it comes to recognizing mom, or any face, we've got computers beat. But scientists are making progress. Take a test to Not a s poll; .World News ow see how well your brain recognizes faces. 0- f or entertainment only House Finally Approves Budget I Hollywood racist? 0 The House has approved $390 billion budget b that caps a year of the next Sam Donalds intense political battles. Both the White House and congressional Webcast, at 12:30 p.m. Republicans are claiming victory over the deal. 11 ► Friday, D.L. I- tugh s Re P g ry of ABC's The Hughley discusses being a bla N. Ireland Peace Deal Is Near, Says Mitchell actor. Click here to se y past Webcasts featuri Peace is at hand in Northern Ireland, former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell Janeane Garofalo, Jes said today. His comments came after he finished 11 weeks of Ventura & U2 's Bono. meetings with Protestant and Catholic leaders in the troubled province. click Hereto ask your The I.R.A. said Wednesday it's ready to discuss turning in its .uestions and view past weapons. 1► shows. 1 of3 11/18/996:12 PM ABCNEWS.com : Texas A &M Students Crushed to Death http : / /abcnews.go.com / sections/ us/DailyNews/bonfire991118.html 1111 ;� GO Kids I GO Family I GO Money 1 GO Sports I GO Home 1 ABOUT GO NETWORK SIGN IN FREE E -MAIL O ABCNE Ill WEB Tradition Turns to Tragedy Texas A &M Students ,, `; � *ta Were Building Bonfire; ' y . � At Least Nine Killed • Texas A &M students and rescue • "' ° workers gather at the base of the ' collapsed bonfire stack as the search . continues for victims in College Station, Texas. (Pat Sullivan /AP Photo) Li. Alp ABCNEWS.com LIVE EVENTS Nov. 18 — A long-running tradition turned CHAT: Tradition g g turns tragic. LIVE deadly early today at Texas A &M in College NOW Station, Texas, when a 40 -foot tower of full -size logs collapsed as students prepared for the school's annual bonfire. sidebar us HEADLINES ' At least nine students were killed and 28 others Nas' Names College Students tude j were injured when the structure — Released lighted not yet hted — fell. At least four US Diplomats Urge Y g lOr Caution in EuyptAir • 4 . of the injured were in critical Crash c ondition this afternoon. Life in Prison for Jasper Convict A wave of grief settled over the AUDIO Gun- Related Death ; VI r GO campus of 43,000, some 90 miles Status report Rate Drops ABCNEWS' Mike northwest of Houston. Thousands Bishops to Rein in Von Fremd on Texas A &M Catholic Colleges reports from turned out for a memorial service accident. LIVE Texas A &M on the tonight, including former President NOW. bonfire accident. George Bush, whose presidential RealVideo g P (download library is at Texas A &M. WEB LINK RealPlaver) "For the Texas Aggie family and Texas A &M University the world, this has been a day of unspeakable grief and sorrow," A &M president Ray Bowen said. "We're all trying to cope with this tremendous loss of life and the pain and suffering." Daunting Task for Rescuers Between 60 and 70 students were believed to be on the giant log pile when it trembled and crashed at about 2:30 a.m. The bonfire faculty adviser, Rusty Thompson, said students who watched the logs collapse told him "there was just a sudden movement. Five to seven seconds and it was on the ground." "It's like Pickup Sticks. These logs are all 1 of 4 11/18/99 9:24 PM ABCNEWS.com : Texas A &M Students Crushed to Death http: / /abcnews.go.com/ sections/ us/DailyNews/bonfire991118.html intertwined," Fire Department spokesman Bart Humphreys said. But the painstaking work was expected to continue into the night as rescuers tried to reach the two people seen in the debris. "We take it one log at a time," said Kem Bennett, director of a state rescue unit. "They're wired three together in stacks, so we have to cut the wire and move them one at a time. So it's a lengthy process." Rescuers earlier in the day used sensitive sound - detection equipment to listen for moaning or tapping from the enormous pile of collapsed logs, and heard scratching noises that led them to believe there were victims trapped. Bonfire Canceled The bonfire was scheduled for Thanksgiving night, on the eve of the school's big game against archrival University of Texas. The mammoth structure — about 55 feet high when completed — is usually built over the course of several weeks. Construction on this year's pile began Nov. 6. Students who build the bonfire cut the logs themselves and get safety training from professionals, officials said. They are called "potheads" because of the hard hats they wear during construction. Several layers of logs are put in place by cranes, tractors and students. When completed, the pyramid of logs is designed to twist inward and collapse as it burns. A tradition at the school since 1909, the annual conflagration was dear to the students, some say. Those who worked on building the bonfire did so around the clock until it was finished. "Students fail classes, students give up everything to work on the bonfire and to put in these hours at the bonfire," said Sally Turner, who works at the Texas A &M student newspaper, The Battalion. This year's bonfire was canceled after the tragedy. The only other time students have forgone the bonfire was in 1963, after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Sympathy From Across the Nation After the early morning tragedy, students at Texas A &M mourned their loss. Some gathered near the scene of the collapse, a field on the northeast corner of the campus. As the efforts continued to rescue those still trapped under the logs, some students stood and prayed, hands clasped together. Patrick Freshwater, a "pothead, " reacted with disbelief as he helped clear away the logs after the accident. "I've never seen anything like this," Freshwater said. "It's something you don't ever want to feel. I 2 of 4 11/18/99 9:24 PM ABCNEWS.com : Texas A &1I1 Students Crushed to Death http: / /abcnews.go.com/ sections /us /DailyNews/bonfire991118.html • went to my class and there was nobody there. The teacher wasn't even there, because no one can go to class when this is going on." The tragedy could call into question the school's venerable tradition. The bonfires, which began when Texas A &M was an all -male military academy, usually draw tens of thousand of spectators each year. But university President Ray Bowen said he didn't know if the tradition would be discontinued. "It's a very important tradition to us, but those decisions must be made at a calmer time," said Bowen, who said he has received notes of sympathy from all over the country. • Victims' Names Released Following are the names of the nine students killed and a partial list of the identifies of the injured who were treated at area hospitals: Killed Jerry Self, sophomore engineering technology major, Arlington, Texas Jeremy Frampton, senior psychology major, Turlock, Calif. Bryan McClain, freshman agriculture major, San Antonio • Christopher Breen, Austin, Texas Chad Powell, sophomore computer engineering major, Keller, Texas Nathan Scott West, sophomore oceanography major, Bellaire, Texas Jamie Hand, freshman environmental design major, Henderson, Texas • Lucas Kimmel, freshman biomedical science major, Corpus Christi, Texas • Christopher Lee Heard, freshman pre- engineering major, Houston Injured At St. Joseph Regional Health Center Tim Kurlee, critical condition J.J. Washam, critical condition Chad Hutchinson, critical condition • William Davis, poor condition Lannie Hayes, fair condition Will Harlan, fair condition Milton Thiel, fair condition Jody Jacobs, treated and released Leslie Graham, treated and released • Britt Henley, treated and released Caleb Hill, treated and released William Lickman, treated and released At College Station Medical Center Officials have not released the names of 14 students treated at the hospital. One student was in critical condition. Two students were admitted with broken bones and severe cuts and were listed in serious condition. Eleven students suffering minor cuts and bruises were treated and released. — The Associated Press 3 of 4 11/18/99 9:24 PM Bcnson: Texas bonfires http:// www. arizonarepublic .com/opinions/benson /11 1999benson.shtn N fWS SPORTS ENTERTAIN/ANT BUSINESS TRAVEL CLASSIFIEDS SHOPPING YELLOW PAGES • l'AVii •� >;� C E N T R A L THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC op from The Arizona Republic ■ Benson's View j 1 BONFIRE 'TRADITIONS] IN Editorials `_ _ _ .� M ■Letters `� • ". Y �t ■ Talk About I t ,, �,,��� � '� < ' , r • Forums 4 ; , - ',0 r. r ~f L ! i,:,:...1,1.4, `, fif - n. • Opinions E -mail I r , ;. L h�. �.,4� • Hel:; ul Li =, u Vi,.., +` • A. b• t, .•', , � ."..° -= 1 ,:. . - ff " Joel Nil - qs l3 A5�ER ABM Robert Robb Linda Valdez Ken Western 11/19/99 Keven Willey BACK Send e - mail to Benson OPINIONS MAIN I EDITORIALS 1 BENSON 1 LETTERS FORUMS 1 SEND A LETTER 1 GOVERNMENT LINKS HOME 1 NEWS 1 SPORTS 1 ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS 1 TRAVEL 1 CLASSIFIED Copyright 1999, Arizona Central The online news and information service of The Arizona Republic Search The Republic's Archives I Subscribe to The Republic • Contact us 1 r,f 1 11 /22/99 1:28 P Benson: Texas bonfires http: / /www.arizonarepublic.com/ opinions /benson/111999benson.shtml N S SPORTS ENTERTAIN NT BUSINESS TRAVEL CLASSIFIEDS SHOPPING YELLOW PAGES • 0...RJ2DBA1 CENTRAL 'lllE AaIZOx:t REPUBLIC op inions from The Arizona Republic Benson's View "The Arizona Republic" has removed the Nov. 19 cartoon by Steve Benson from this web site out of respect for the families and friends Editorials of the students who died in the tragic Texas A&M accident. While a cartoonist often exaggerates to make a point or express his or her • Letters opinion, the cartoon in question inappropriately linked the Texas A &M tragedy to two others. • Talk About It * ** • Forums IN Opinions E -mail A note from the editor • Helpful Links By Keven Willey The Arizona Republic • Columns Nov. 22, 1999 Jennifer Dokes Doug MacEachern The e -mails and phone calls started pouring in last Friday. The Joel Nilsson Arizona Republic has received nearly 2,000 e -mails and telephone Robert Robb calls protesting the Nov. 19 cartoon by Steve Benson about last Linda Valdez week's tragic accident at Texas A &M. Ken Western Keven Willey We are doing our best to respond to all the e-mails and phone calls. In fact, Steve has personally responded to hundreds of the messages, most of them from Texas. But it's clear the protests are outpacing our ability to respond promptly one by one. That's why I'm responding via this column. We have pulled the cartoon from our website. If I had it to do over again, we would not approve this cartoon for publication. The cartoon sought to link three recent American tragedies that share no meaningful linkages. Thus, the cartoon's message was lost on many readers. To be effective, a cartoon needs an understandable message. Compounding the problem is the fact that the cartoon also appeared on the same day that the families and friends of the more than three dozen Texas A &M students who were killed or injured in Thursday's collapse of a 40 -foot tower of "Bonfire" logs were preparing for to attend a long and painful series funerals. 1 of 2 11/23/99 9:38 AM Benson: Texas bonfires http: / /www.arizonarepublic.com/ opinions /benson/111999benson.shtml The cartoon in question had three frames. The first one was labeled Waco and had a picture of billowing smoke coming from a barracks -style compound. The second frame was labeled Jasper and showed three hooded Ku Klux Klan members with large burning cross. The third frame was labeled A &M and showed a pile of logs. The title of the cartoon: Texas Bonfire Traditions. Steve's point in doing the cartoon was to highlight common themes he saw in the three tragedies which he found disturbing - chiefly that all three tragedies occurred in Texas, resulted from poor judgment and caused needless deaths. Unfortunately, in this instance, Steve's premise was weak and the manner in which he chose to communicate it was susceptible to misinterpretation. His editors are responsible for monitoring taste and clarity, and we erred in approving this cartoon. We apologize for our error in judgment. Sadly, the fact that Steve's cartoon was intended to sympathize with the victims of the Texas A &M accident - by blaming the poor judgment of school officials and other authorities for the tragedy - was lost. BACK Send e-mail to Benson OPINIONS MAIN 1 EDITORIALS I FENSON 1 LETTERS FORUMS 1 SEND A LETTER 1 GOVERNMENT LINKS HOME 1 NEWS 1 SPORTS 1 ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS 1 TRAVEL 1 CLASSIFIED Copyright 1999, Arizona Central The online news and information service of The Arizona Republic Search The Republic's Archives 1 Subscribe to The Republic Contact us 2 of 2 11/23/99 9:38 AM 11/22/99 MON 13:39 FAX 512 719 6779 TML GBRP Ij004 Eleven (Now 12) Ags Cross the Tracks by Mike Geeslin '91 In the late afternoon on November 17, 1999, an Aggie Cadet came back from class, threw his books on his bed, and began rummaging through all his belongings searching for his bonfire pot. He finally found it under the bed, hastily shoved there in anticipation of an inspection that day. He changed into his bonfire grodes and crammed his pot on down his head. Feeling good about where he was going, the Cadet quickly made his way down the quadrangle, through the arches and past the memorial on the plaza in honor of those whose lives had been taken in time of war. On the other side of campus, another Ag shoved his heel into his work boots and hurriedly ran the laces through the eyelets, sending up a puff of dust and dirt that had accumulated from the prior day's work. He strode out the door and walked to the Memorial Student Center, where it is forbidden to walk across the grass out of respect for those who have passed on. Taking care of some last minute errands, the Ag headed out the front doors of the MSC across from the drill • field, past the memorial at the entrance that honored still more who had fallen in defense of the nation. Upon reaching the edge of the drill field, he broke into a quick shuffle and decided to cut across the grass, which was respected but not as sacred cis that surrounding the MSC, not half aware that to his left was yet another solitary, solemn memorial standing at the west entrance to campus. The day had only begun for this man who was on his way to bonfire. After crossing the field, he walked diagonally across the street and down the sidewalk past the Academic Building, in which another good Ag sat in a classroom, staring out the window while the professor's words moved through the air. The words provoked little interest, causing her attentiveness to turn toward the statue of Sul Ross standing out in front of the building where Silver Taps was held each month. It was such a wonderful fall day outside. The leaves had turned brown and yellow and red. People were outside talking and smiling to each other, sitting on benches reading books or in the grass watching everyone else go by. She thought she would stand up and leave; she wanted to be out there where things were happening. And so she did, without saying a word, while the professor simultaneously continued his lecture and tracked her with his eyes as she quietly walked out of the room. The young Ag walked outside and thought what a good idea it would be to go out to bonfire. That is where things were happening, she thought. Hundreds of other Aggies went through similar routines that afternoon; determined, though unsuspecting of any catastrophic event and certainly not contemplating death, although they were surrounded by remembrances of those Aggies, young and old, whose lives had met this unfortunate certainty. There were Ags who, though no longer students, returned back to campus that day to simply participate in bonfire and maybe, even for a night, be what they once were. It was like any other day in Aggieland. Everyone willing and able converged on the bonfire, drawing in deep breaths of air laced with the sweet smell of smoke from the post oak and cedar elm burning in the perimeter fires. They pulled on gloves and some put wads of cheap tobacco in their cheeks. Others grabbed food and water from the tables. They all worked and they all worked hard, past sunset and into the night. The sound track to "Patton" blared over the loudspeaker amid the ethereal glow of the floodlights and perimeter fires. Cranes grunted and heaved. People yelled at barked orders, signaling the cranes to move the logs a few feet, and then a fraction of an inch. Pliers snapped excess wire as each log was fastened into place. Hands were extended to pull relief workers up on to stack while good friends sat together on logs to rest and take stock of what they had done. People were covered in dirt and grime and smoke and it was all good. Then, without warning, there was an awful, horrific noise followed by a flash of white light. 11/22/99 MON 13:40 FAX 512 719 6779 TML GBRP el 005 Eleven Ags, men and women, were walking side by side in a confident, jocular gait. Some had their pots tilted back on their heads and others carried them under arm. No one was fully cognizant of the surroundings. Their loose strides changed to a slow march as they approached a distant figure sitting next to a gate. They stopped abruptly within a short distance from the figure and fixed their gazes upon him. Without saying a word, each one had realized that they were staring at 5t. Peter. "Excuse me, Sir ?" said one of the Aggies, stepping forward. "Yes ?" replied St. Peter. "Were Aggies. We've been working on bonfire. You see, every year we build this huge fire," "I know," interrupted St. Peter with a warm smile. "We watch it from up here." St. Peter opened the gate and motioned them to go in, but everyone stood motionless. "Why do you stall ?" asked St. Peter. The Aggie who had stepped forward looked down at his torn clothes and worn boots. "It is by the grace of God that you enter these gates, and no other reason. Do not fret over what you wear, because those threads represent more virtue than most men's souls will ever know. Now, pass through the gate." They all walked through, arms around each other, laughing and smiling. One of the Aggies remarked, "You know, I didn't realize that this place was part of campus." "I did," replied another Ag. "I always suspected that it was somewhere across the railroad tracks." - Mike Geeslin '91 11/22/99 MOIL 13:38 FAX 512 719 6779 TML GBRP 42) 002 November 1999 In memory of our 12 brothers and sisters who's lives abruptly came to an end this week. Gone, but never forgotten. It was judgement day in Aggieland and tenseness filled the air; All knew there was a trip at hand, But not a soul knew where. Assembled on the drill field Was the world - renowned Twelfth Man, The entire fighting Aggie team And the famous Aggie Band. And out in front with Royal Guard The reviewing party stood; St. Peter and his angel staff Were choosing bad from good. First he surveyed the Aggie team And in terms of an angel swore, "By Jove, I do believe I've seen This gallant group before. I've seen them play since way back when, And they've always had the grit; I've seen 'em lose and I've seen 'em win But I've never seen 'em quit. No need for us to tarry here Deciding upon their fates; Tis plain as the halo on my head That they've opened Heaven's gates." And when the Twelfth Man heard this, They let out a mighty yell That echoed clear to Heaven And shook the gates of Hell. "And what group is this upon the side," St. Peter asked his aide, "That swelled as if to burst with pride When we our judgment made ?" "Why, sir, that's the Cadet Corps That's known both far and wide For backing up their fighting team Whether they won lost or tied." "Well, then," said St. Peter, "It's very plain to me That within the realms of Heaven They should spend eternity. 11/22/99 MON 13:38 FAX 512 719 6779 TML GBRP 003 And have the Texas Aggie Band At once commence to play For their fates too we must decide Upon this crucial day." And the drum major so hearing Slowly raised his hand And said, "Boys, let's play The Spirit For the last time in Aggieland." And the band poured forth the anthem, In notes both bright and clear And ten (forty) thousand Aggie voices Sang the song they hold so dear. And when the band had finished, St. Peter wiped his eyes And said, "It's not so hard to see They're meant for Paradise." And the colonel of the Cadet Corps said As he stiffly took his stand, "It's just another Corps Trip, boys, We'll march in behind the band."