District Attorney Schneider said: "We are investigating the possibility that this
fire was incendiary in origin."
Several books were found charred in Room 316 in the older part of the school. There was no other evidence of fire uncovered in this room.
A "Keep Out" sign has been posted on the door of this classroom.
Meanwhile, Mrs. John Gird, president of the Board of Education, has scheduled a meeting of the board for 7:30 tonight to consider an offer of the use of 14 classrooms in the old and new West Frankfort Elementary school building.
SEYMOUR, of 19 Center St., was dead on arrival at the Ilion Hospital. Last rites of the Roman Catholic Church were administered by the Rev. Gregory Mulhall, pastor of the Church of Annunciation.
Day is in Ilion Hospital. He was treated by Dr. Theodore Carney for a broken pelvis. Hospital officials said Day was in "good" condition this morning.
The firefighting operations were under the supervision of Ilion Chief Richard Wright.
The blaze, believed to have started on the third floor of the original high school building, destroyed or damaged 25 classrooms, the auditorium, girl's gymnasium, and the administrative offices located on the second floor.
Water and smoke damage was heavy through the three-story brick building. Water cascaded down stairways into hallways and some classrooms' in the new addition completed in 1960.
SEYMOUR AND DAY were reported running over the rooftop, carrying hose when they fell into the airshaft, landing on concrete. There were no lights on that section of the roof and firemen said they believed the two did not see the opening in the darkness. Sparks were coming through the roof when the men fell.
HERKIMER COUNTY Mutual Aid Radio network in the Herkimer County jail was used by county fire co-ordinator, Richard Folts and deputy, Ira Allen, to summon fire equipment from Herkimer, Mohawk, Frankfort, and Utica.
Within minutes after the first alarm at 10:55 p.m. flames, fanned by wind gusts of 15 to 25 miles per hour, were shooting through the roof. Clocks in the building were stopped at 10:50.
It was believed the fire-resistant nature of the building contained the fire, although there was dense smoke and heavy water damage. The most extensive damage was on the third floor.
A new language laboratory installed about Feb. 1 was completely destroyed. Installation cost $4,000.
The school is covered by insurance, Herbert Walker of Walker and Walker Agency said today. His firm acts as insurance adviser to the school board. Less than three months ago the Board of Education acted on recommendations made by the Industrial Appraisal Company to increase the insurance, Walker said.
George Proper, Albany, chief of the State Division of Safety, was at the scene shortly after 1 a.m..
Firemen, numbering about 100, encountered difficulty with the couplings on hoses and adapters were used by the Utica and Mohawk departments when it was discovered the threads were not standardized.
Mutual Aid summoned Mohawk, Frankfort, Middleville, Rome, Little Falls, and Utica fire departments.
Many of the valuable items in the school building, such as records, musical instruments and other equipment was salvaged. Hundreds of volunteers, including high school pupils, aided in sweeping water out of the building and removing contents.
Mrs. John Gird, president of the board of Education, said today the fire was believed started on the roof near the auditorium. She said the entire high school building had been re-wired two years ago last September.
"I am confident this had nothing to do with the fire," Mrs. Gird said.
Mrs. Gird also said the West Hill School, North Side and East Frankfort Schools opened on schedule this morning. It is expected the Weber Avenue School will open Thursday for elementary pupils only. Meanwhile, the buildings will be used for taking inventory, Mrs. Gird said.
A total of 1,100 junior and senior high school pupils will be out of school until arrangements can be made for other quarters, Mrs. Gird said. There are 420 pupils attending the Weber Avenue School.
THE ORIGINAL, Ilion High School building was erected in 1914, and the two wings on the north and south sides were added in 1925. The heaviest flames were mostly confined in the north east wing. However the fire swept to the south wing and all windows were broken out.
The gymnasium was constructed in 1927 and 10 rooms were added, including the music room, in 1951.
Both state and local police were at the scene and emergency vehicles brought into service. The Mohawk Valley Mobile Emergency Unit, headed by Walter Marmet, Mohawk, was on hand all night.
Chief Wright, who directed fire fighters, today began an investigation as to cause with Chief of Police Goldin. Meanwhile, all available special police were assigned to duty to help handle hundreds of spectators who flocked to the scene this morning.
School superintendent George Purple, said he has been contacted by Edgar Warren, supervising pincipal of the Mohawk Central School, and Arnold Copping superintendent of Herkimer Central School, offering services.
Superintendent John F. Murphy of the Frankfort-Schuyler Central School, was at the Ilion Weber Avenue School at 10, meeting with the Ilion Board of Education.
"The Frankfort-Schuyler Board has offered all and any facilities that are available to assist the Ilion School system," Murphy said.
The board meeting was called to map plans for taking care of 1,400 pupils, George Anderson, supervising elementary principal, said.
TWO REPRESENTATIVES of the Remington Rand Service Division, Utica, appeared this morning with two truck-loads of office equipment to be used if necessary. They were George McCorduck, service manager and Robert McEaney, salesman.
Anderson told the men he thought most of the school's office equipment had been saved.
Other offers have been coming in to the school, Anderson said including the Ilion Elks Lodge, which offered the use of its entire buillding in the emergency.
Capt. Rober Baker of the Salvation Army, Herkimer was at the scene of the fire from 11:30 until 4 and with the help of Donald and Charles Mosher, served coffee and sandwiches to the fire-fighters.
