The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-05-16

. tendance and one other point leadinJ
Michigan paper remarks: "Hillsdals
College occupies the honorable posi
ton OF being next in point OF number,
: and thoroughness OF instruction to ths
} State University. and at present and
prospectively gives promise OF a grand
position in the future"
The struggle 10 erect the building
and endow the professors chairs ab,
sorbed so much attention that compar.
atively little effort could be put forth
TO secure a library, collect museum,
and obtain the necessary PHILOSOPHERS
apparatus. These important matters,
however, were not wholly neglected.
The eighteenth annual catalogue an
nounced that the College library con.
tanned 1000 volumes, in addition to
those belonging to the societies. Fol
the Theological Department especial
provision was made. A library ha
been collected some years ago in New
England for the Free Baptist Theolog-
ical Institution at New Hampton, N.
II. Upon the removal OF that institu.
ton to Bates College the books were
divided, a portion being retained at
Lewiston aud the remainder being sent
west tn Hillsdale This has been fre.
gently increased by donations from o
gentlemsn Of Boston, and 10 already OF
great value for the purpose designed.
BY November, 1873, O museum Of
natural history had also been collected,
illustrating the branches OF botany,
entomology. geology, and ornithology.
The college herbarium was exceeding
ly rich. II comprised: i, the DIR. Ab-
bott collection OF California plants : 2,
a collection Of Michigan plants ; 3, .
collection Of Alpine and other Euro
pean plants 4, . collection OF New
England plants. This cabinet had
been obtained chiefly through the ef-
forts Of Prof Hiram Collier. aud sub
ssquently Of Prof. ID. NJ. Fisk, who
spent some months in Europe during
the year 1873, and. while seeking the re-
creation aud improvement OF foreign
tour, sought 10 add to the scientific
treasures Of Hillsdaie College.
The Professor OF Mathematics and
Natural Philosophy also had n respect
able apparatus with which to illustrate
his teachings in the latter study. In
the Telegraphic Department there were
eighteen costly sets OF instruments and
batteries. with other valuable material.
With such facilities--a noble build
ing, healthy location, an enthusiastic
Faculty. well-selected aud growing
library, an excellent cabinet, q valua.
ble tslegraphic and philosophical appa-
ratus, and woll-conducted societies, il
is not surprising that the eighteenth
annual catalogue, issned November,
1873, reported an attendance during
the previous year Of 6SS students. -
The College was at the full tide OF
prosperity February 2lst, 1874. when
the winter term closed and most OF the
students scattered to their respective
homes. A few remained during the
vacation, while the Commercial and
Telegraphic Department continued its
operations with nm unusually large at
tendance. In two weeks time. how
changed At hslf-past one o'clock
Friday morning, March 9Th, the bell
that had called 40 many thousands TO
recitation aud prayer rang its dying
peal IL WAS q peal of alarm. Two
students occupying room in the third
story of the west wing were
awakened from sleep by the excessive
heat OF their room. The floor almost
burned their feet as they sprang from
the bed. They reused the occupants
OF other rooms, aud sent the alarm of
fire by the old bell 10 the slum berins
inhabitants OF the city. Soon large
number s~,Ls-sd t~ .hn sa@.., L,t
not until the flames had gained such
headway that but few things could be
saved from tho west wing. Many,
however, throDged the halls in the ef-
fort to rescue the property Of the Col
lege aud the effects OF absent students.
Feeble woman We'd with man in the
perils aud labors OF the hour. A fall
of rain and an east wind frightened
the hope OF saving the hopo Of saving
the central building but in spite OF
every effort the flames were not arrest
ed before they reached the east wall OF
the west wing. Here they met at i'm
passable barrier, for there was no pass
/ age way between the central building
and that wing. But Mr.. Hugh Cook
discovered au opening in the founda-
tion Of the dividing wall. through
which the fire could soon have found
its way to the east hall Volunteers
quickly brought brick from the part
already destroyed. while DIR. J. l.
Mills and Mr.. q. M. Troy with trowel
aud mortar extemporized barrier 10
the flames. Before daybreak two
thirds Of the College building was in
ashes. The gentlemens' society rooms,
/ Prof Gardner's studio, the laboratory
and philosophical apparatus, the cabi.
net. the chapel organ. were all destroy
cd. Prof Rideout's loss was very
/ heavy. He had spent several hundred
dollars in fitting up his rooms. His
costly telegraphic apparatus was screw
ell 10 the floor and could not be remov-
ed. His entire loss smonnted to not
less than 5000. The Steward, Mr.. J.
L. Reynolds, lost considerably in dam.
aged provisions aud furniture. The
! library was saved, a. also the books
aud papers Of the Secretary aud Treas
ursr. Scarcely anything else Of the
college property was rescued from the
devouring element.
The friends of tue College were
stunned 10y the blow. But the thought
that no lives were lost was the brst TO
roase them from their stupor. The
needs Of the hour soon awakened them
10 effort. Before night plans were laid
/ for re-opening the school on the ap.
pointed day. That very morning
| Treasurer Reynolds establh he'd his Of
Tee in vacant store opposite the ruins.
Prof. Rijeout, with some torrewed in
struments and in hired rooms, rallied
his classes to renew their work. The
trustees of the Free Baptist Church
promptly placed their commodIous
house OF Worship at the disposal OF the
Faculty. The wires that announced
the calamity 10 all parts of the Union
again announced that theTe would be
no break In the College exercises. -
I've must build again" was the reso-
lutte cry on oil sides aud by the 18th
Of the following August arrangements
had so far progressed that the corner
stone Of the new central bnilding was
duly laid. The popular Professor
Dunn, rs on the similar occasion twen-
ty-one years before, made the conse-
Grating prayer and delivered telling
address. Ex-President Fairfield came
from his Ohio home and, with the
Honsr Henry wnldron, John T.. Cook,
aud others, took part in the exercises.
This happy beginning was followed by
many voluntary acts Of sympathy from
abroad. Immediately upon receipt oi
the news ~ our great loss, the Rev. I.
ID. Stewart, Of the Morning Star, sent
his check for $50 and by the same
mail came q donation of 500 from W.
s. George a Co.. Of Lansing, publish.
crs OF the State Republican. These
were the first gifts after the fire and
following them various parties. from