The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1869-10-30
The Destruction of the State Sem
mary.

The Seminary building, hear
Alexandria, was destroyed by fire
last Friday morning between 1
and 3 o'clock. No lives were lost,
and the students generally saved
their baggage. They found tenn
porary shelter among the hospita-
ble citizens Of Alexandria, and
some OF them are now on their
home up or down the river. The
effect of this disaster will be the
total suspension of the Seminary
until temporary barracks can be
erected for the cadets.
The building destroyed was
about three miles north of the
town, on high grounds, and in the
midst of a widely extended and
beautiful pine grove. For archi-
tectural beauty, structure and
size, it was not surpassed in the
South. The walls were of brick,
and being painted white, present
ed, from short distance, the ap-
pearance of solid marble. The
first impression upon the eye
upon reaching the open parade
grounds was that Of almost magi-
cal beauty. The interior was con-
structed with great care. The
lecture rooms and cadets quarters
were we'll arranged for health, :,
discipline and comfort. It was
surrounded by several accessory
buildings, assigned as residences
for the families of professors, and
was supplied with an abundance
of the best spring water. A more
favorable location for central
seat Of learning cannot be found
Ill Louisiana, on account either OF
salubrity or remoteness from de-
moralizing influences.
The Louisiana State Seminary
and Military Academy was found
ed on land grants from the U. $.
Government, made by various
acts from 1906 to 1S49, and by
the Legislature in 1856. The
Hon. Michael Ryan, of Rapides,
then a member Of the State Sen
ate and a Jealous friend of learn
ing, aided the cause by his influ-
ence and eloquence, both 1T Baton
Rouge and among the citizens of
the State elsewhere.
The Seminary was first opened
under the superintendency of Col.
w. II. Sherman (now 1t. GEM
and an able corps of professors,
among whom was David Il. Boyd,
the present able and Jealous Su-
perintendent. The session Of that
year began with class of fine
young men, who, in the course of
the year, improved rapidly in
scholarship and soldierly discip-
line. It's career of prosperity was
suspended in July Of the next
year, on account of the war, in
the course of which a majority of
the students found benefit in the
limited military instruction re-
ceived at the Seminary. In April,
1862, the Seminary re-opened un-
der the Rev. E. M. Linfield, and
under his superintendcy and that
of Professor Seay, but was again
closed in April, 1868, on account
Of Banks invasion. 1t was open
ed October I'd, 1865, and from that
time until the recent disaster was
steadily gaining ground. During
the last session there were in at
tendance a hundred and forty
cadets, and the session now
brought to All abrupt and disas-
trous close opened under very
fattering auspices.
About one hundred of the ca
diets of the last class and probably
the same number Of the present
class, were beneficiary Or State
cadets, taught and maintained at
the cost of the State, under the
provisions of the act of the Gen
eral Assembly of 1859. This sad
interruption will be serious loss
to many of these, who are with
out the means to prosecute their
academic studies. The disaster
will be lamented far and wide by
all the friends OF learning in
whose noble republic there are
neither State nor national bound
aries.-N. o. Bulletin.
NASHVILLE, Oct. 22.-Senato-