Dear Lynn,
   No, it wasn't burning at the time (also my first thought).  They were
still constructing it.  The death told is at 8 now with 2-3 students still
trapped and it is unknown if they are still alive.  I saw the pile at lunch
time.  Four cranes were at the site.   Thanks for your concern and prayers
for the families and students affected.

Sarah Christo, HT (ASCP)
Texas A&M University
College of Veterinary Medicine
Dept. of Vet. Anatomy & Public Health
Histology Laboratory
College Station, TX  77868-4458
schristo@cvm.tamu.edu
phone (409) 845-3177
fax (409) 847-8981

>>> "Lynn Gardner" <lynn-gardner@uiowa.edu> 11/18 1:24 PM >>>
Dear Carol,

We heard about this via our noon news. I have a question though was the
bonfire burning at the time it collapsed or not? Please let us know if
there is anything we can do. I know this must be agony for the parents.

Sincerely,
Lynn Gardner, HT(ASCP)

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 11/18/99 at 9:57 AM Sarah Christo wrote:

>Dear Carol,
>   We are all in a state of shock today with the terrible tragedy that
>happened at 2:30 am today.  Four students are dead and 24 injured, an
>unknown number are still trapped below the 75 feet tall log stack that
>collapsed.  This is just down the street from the Vet. School were I work.
>The authorities are still trying to ascertain what happened to make the
>bonfire collapse.  Some parents are still not sure if their children are
>safe or not since they do not have a list of students that were working on
>it at the time.  They are still trying to free the trapped students and
>are unsure of how many students are trapped.  There are problems removing
>the logs on top of the trapped students as it is like a pile of
>pick-up-sticks, every log effects another log when it is moved.  The
>injured are suffering from broken bones and head trauma.  One injured
>student is from Tennessee.  Approximately 75 students were working on the
>Bonfire last night when it collapsed.  Bonfire is an old Aggie tradition
>symbolizing the burning desire of A&M to beat the University of Texas in
>their football game which is played around Thanksgiving.  Please keep the
>families and students in your prayers.    Sarah
>
>Sarah Christo, HT (ASCP)
>Texas A&M University
>College of Veterinary Medicine
>Dept. of Vet. Anatomy & Public Health
>Histology Laboratory
>College Station, TX  77868-4458
>schristo@cvm.tamu.edu
>phone (409) 845-3177
>fax (409) 847-8981
>
>>>> <cjohnston@mail.mdanderson.org> 11/18 9:21 AM >>>
>Sarah,
>
>I am writing to ask you how it is going at A & M after the events of this
>morning.  I heard it on the news and of course it has been on here in Houston
>this morning.  I hope everything turns out well for all.
>
>Carol M. Johnston, HT(ASCP)
>M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
>1515 Holcombe Blvd. Box 62
>Houston, Tx   77030
>713-745-4625
>cjohnston@notes.mdacc.tmc.edu