Water Bomb Nearly Starts Gold Coast Conflagration

Fire nearly drove two residents of Adams House to test Randolph's risky fire escapes last night, not from a lighted cigarette dropped into an overstuffed chair, but because of an innocent water bomb which landed beneath a window curtain.

After a furious but short exchange of bombs and bucketfuls of water, the dripping belligerents called it a night. But as one of them was dozing off, a series of loud pops reawakened him.

Hissing flames and sparks were darting toward the curtain. One last aqueous missile had apparently landed on a frayed light cord, and, on drying, had caused a short circuit. No damage was reported.