A Fire Alarm in the Middle of Commencement

The first commencement exercises of the Newport High School as an accredited school were held at Kelly's Hall Friday evening, June 10. The hall was crowded to its capacity by friends of the graduates and people of the town, who wished to observe the progress the school is making and show their appreciation of it.

The stage was prettily decorated with palms and potted plants, while the walls of the hall were adorned with pennants and banners of the Newport High School. The program was carried out in a manner that won the praise of all. The musical numbers by members of the High School were well rendered and each of the members of the graduating class acquitted themselves with credit to the thorough training they have received at the hands of their instructors.

Prof. Leo H. King, in his address presenting diplomas to the graduates, took occasion to compliment the people of Newport on the progress the town has made during the four years of his administration of the schools, and congratulate them on this progress, and the fact that in the hustle incident to the growth of a western town they had not failed to provide liberally for the educational features of life. Even those who have been in Newport during this time and participated in the development of the town were hardly prepared to grasp the magnitude of the changes that were so graphically depicted by Mr. King. Time moves fast in this western country and changes come so rapidly that the transition from the crude stage to a town that is rapidly acquiring all metropolitan advantages is hardly noted. Mr. King spoke of his faith in the future growth and prosperity of the town, and feelingly referred to his continued interest and hope for its welfare and that of its schools. He bade farewell to the school and town, as he leaves soon for Green Bay, Wis., to spend the summer, and at the beginning of the next school year takes the superintendency of the Grangeville, Idaho, schools. His departure from Newport is sincerely regretted by many, who realize the firm foundation he has builded for Newport's schools.

The graduating class, Kathryn Kimmel, Mildred Moeser, Adeline Grover and King Reid, received the hearty congratulations of their friends on the completion of the course.

Panic Narrowly Averted

While the graduating exercises of the Newport High School were drawing to a close in Kelly's Hall Friday evening an alarm of fire was given in the hall, alarming the large audience that packed the hall and causing many to start to leave. Fortunately the crowd behaved admirably under the circumstances, many heeding the counsel of some of those present who advised them to keep their seats. Those that left the hall went out in an orderly manner, and what might have proven a dangerous panic was averted. The fire was in the Koch building next door to the Kelly building. The Koch building, which was recently gutted by fire, is being repaired and one of the workmen slept in the main room. He had gone to sleep while reading by candle light and the candle had ignited some shavings. A few buckets of water extinguished the flames before any damage was done.