Students pause to pray, observe memorial

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A memorial to six students killed in a weekend beach fire continues to draw mourners on the campus of the University of South Carolina.

Handwritten notes, flowers and stuffed animals have been left at the memorial outside the student union.

Sophomore Maura Benton crossed herself and clasped her hands in prayer for the families of the students killed in Sunday’s blaze.

Another student wept as she tucked a folded piece of paper under a bouquet of red roses. Others examined the memorial for clues into the identification of the students who died.

Six University of South Carolina students and one Clemson University student died in the fire in North Carolina on Sunday morning. Six other USC students escaped.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)