Culver Troop Horses Die in Fire

Fire broke out in the long fram stable at the academy shorly after midnight on Sunday, and the rush of the flames was so rapid that nor one of the 65 beautiful black horse odf the famous trooop escaped.

Every animal, with exception of five or six found huddled around the door, died in his stall, the position of the bodies in regular rows indicating that not a halter was broken form its manger, and that probably all hade been suffocated before the flames reached them.

The troop had returned late from a cross-country ride to Winamac.

The barn men had looked after the horses, blanketed and prepared them for the night, and Dr. Gordon, the academy veterinarian, had himself turned off the last eletric light.

The fire evidently broke out between the visits of the night-watchman who requires about two hours to make the complete circuit of his tour.

It was first seen by Captain Starbuck from his quarters in the open air barrack, but before he could get out and give the alarm the wind had swept the flames through the 80 tons of dry hay which filled the mows above the horses and and made of the structure a fiery furnace near which it was immpossile for anyone to approach though frantic efforts were made by cadets, employes and officers to do so.

The real orgin of the fire will probably remain as much of a mystey as that of nine years ago which carried off the gymnasium.

There was an insurance of $20,000 on the horese and sontens of the barn, amd $2,000 on the building.

The building, by the way, was originally a portion of the equipment of old Union Township fair grounds. The loss is hard to estimate.

In addition to the first cost of the horses, which were high-grade animals, selected for their color, carriage and itelligence that had acquired a largely increased value by reason of their training which placed them far above the class of mere saddle horses. There was nothing like them anywhere in the country, and their fame was not even limited to the United States.

They and their predecessors have a reocrd of publice appearances not equaled by any calvary in the land, dating back to McKiley's inauguaration when they participated in the parade as Troop A of the Ohio National Guard. Their next noteable exposition was at the St. Louis Exposition. Thi was followed some years later at the Jamestown Exposition, and more recently down Pennsylvania avenue as a portion of the personal escort of Vice-President Marshall.

It seems the irony of fate that this, next to last of the fra me buildings on the grounds, should have gone through all the years of the school safely only to be burned when the trustees had already announced the erection of splendid new brick stables as a part of their construction program. for 1916.

As soon as word of the disaster was sent to the Culver brothers in St. Louis they acted with characterictic promptness to put in motion the machinery for replacement of both horses and stables.

Arrangements were made immeditely with the stock yards for the purchase od more black horses of an even greater number than were lost.

On Monday evening both E. R. Culver and B. B. Culver were at the academy with the school architect Mr. Knell, and the plans for the new stables were being pushed. Work will be strted at onvce on these on the new site east of the present parafe ground and the projected road. It is hoped that the full number of horses will be on hand within three weeks.

On Tuesday morning Captain Rossow and Dr. Gordon set out to buuy horses for replacement. The will scour parts of Indiana, Ohio and Missouri in their search for black steeds that will meet the specifications for the troop.

Quartermaster Hann announces also that permission has been secured for a number of troopers from the regular calvary at Fort Sheriday to come to Culver for several days to assist in breaking in and training the new horses to their military life.