The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-10
THE OXFORD FIRE.

Particulars of the Destruction of the
Western Female Seminary.
The Cincinnati Gazette of the Sth instant has
the following
A young lady who was pupil in the institu-
tion Gays that when she retired quite late on
Thursday night, she thought that she detected
the smell of smoke in the building, or in the
room she occupied. She thought nothing more
of 1t, but about O'Clock in the morning she was
awakened by the sitting smoke which had
gathered and filed the room In every crack and
crevice. Instantly divining the cause, she
jumped out of bed aud went through the build
her room she found it impossible to enter, on
account of the smoke, and she escaped from the
building in her night clothes, without saving
any OF her wardrobe.
The CONSERVATION created among the inmates
by the dread calamity in the middle of the night
is not easily imagined. Several of the occupants
OF the north wing, the most distant from the
point at which the fire originated, succeeded in
saving some of their clothing and several articles
of furniture on the first floor were also recovered
but the occupants of the south wing in which
the fire started, barely had time to get ont of
the building before it was enveloped in flames.
-Four young ladies-Misses Mary Wilson,
Norsa Goodfellow, Eva Ballard and
Lucy Wetmore-were badly hurt by
jumping from the windows. Miss Wetmore
who leaped from the window of third-story
room, was the least hurt of the four. None of
the injuries sustained, however, are dangerous
and all will recover. In one instance, one of
the female teachers escaped by sliding down the
lightning rod. All showed remarkable presence
of mind in the midst of the impending danger
and the only wonder is that no fatalities resulted
In the hurry and general confusion unusually
characteristic during such scenes.
The fire is supposed to have been caused by
the accidental igniting of lot OF kindling wood
In the bakery, located in the south wing.
There was no water at hand, available, to extin-
guish the fire. The seminary was in possession
of a force pump, but lacked the men to work it,
building Sltuated about
of mile from Oxford, and before assistance
could be obtained from the village, the seminary
was wrapped in flames. Even had there been
fire department promptly at hand, it is ex-
tremely doubtful if the structure could have
been saved. The fire lasted only three hours
after breaking out. The citizens of Oxford re-
sponded promptly at the alarm of fire, and
lent all the aid possible in saving furniture, aud
conveying the young ladies rendered houscless
and homeless for the time being to their houses
where the doors were open to receive them and
the most liberal hospitalities extended
The loss the building is estimated at
$l50, 600, $40 600 of which is covered by nsu-
rance in the following companies: Evans, Lind
sey d Co, $4,000; Miami Valley, S5000 Citi-
zens', $1,000; Franklin, S5000 America, $500O
Liverpool and London, S5000 The balance is
scattered among other companies in small
amounts.
The walls are left standing as the mere she'll
of a once noble and beautiful institution of
learning, which was considered second te none
other in the West. This is the second calamity
by fire that has reached this locality. The
building which formerly occupied this spot,
known as the first Western Female Seminary,
was completely destroyed by fire eleven years
ago on the 18th of January. But these institu-
tions were built under the supervision aud
throughout the extraordinary efforts of The Rev.
Daniel Tenney, one of the Oldest and most in
fuential ministers of Oxford, but more recently
located in Lawrence, Mass. 1t is not too much
to say that the spirit that fosters educational
matters for which the Oxford of the Western
continent is noted throughout the length and
breadth of the land, will not permit the ruins to
occupy the ground very long, but will rear a
seminary in Its stead.
FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE.
To the Editor ofthe Cincinnati Gazette:
The fire originated in the basement, in the bake
room. IL was discovered after midnight and after
the halls were hlled with sn oke. This made II
cessary to extend the alarm with the utmost energy
and diligence to save the lives OF the inmates. All
were saved. Three young ladies' who were obliged
to escape from the second story windows, were
hurt. one OF them rather seriously, but bones
were broken, and all three are reported doing well
this afternoon Many of the young ladies' ESCAPED
whole number lost most OF their wardrobes.
The teachers and pupils behaved with great wis
dom and courage. The students and officers OF
Miami University and citizens OF Oxford generally,
ladies are experiencing the most generous hospi-
tality Railroad companies offer them free pas
sage 10 their homes and competent persons are at
tending TO all the arrangements for getting them
away. number have left to-day, and probably
most OF the others VIII leave to- morrow. Those
whose homes are too far away TO be reached before
The Sabbath Will be Hospitality entertained and pro-
tected at oxford.
H. A. NELSON, Pres Board OF Trustees.
THE GCpENNCVIVANIA OnMDANU -