, 1877-12-16
FIRES.

LAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY.
The college building Of the Lake Forest Uni
versity, 4 handsome four-story structure OF con
| siderablesize was burnt to the ground at an ear
1y hour yesterday morning, and there is too nuc
reason for believing that the fire was caused b.
| an incendlary. This supposition is strengthened
by the fact that carly Friday mornin!
flames were discovered issuing from
the basement in room used as a,
| ice-housc, aud containing 4 quantity
! Of sawdust. This fire was extingushcd will
slight loss, and two students were appointed tt
watch the building Friday night. The second
fire originated in the cupola, about Il O'Clock ii
| the morning, lime when no person had arigh
| to be in that part Of the building.
| The college was built about five years ago
! and was originally designed for hotel
1t was erected by the Lake Forest
Land Company, OF which Gen. Ansou
| Stager, the Hon. c. 3. Farwell. George L. Dun,
lap, Henry L. Pcarsons, and ". Y. Kay were
| stockholders, aud It's cost was between SGU, 000
and s;o,ooo. The furniture cost nearly SEQ, 900,
and the design was to make tirst-class
suburban hotel. Mr.. Burrell, present proprie-
tor Of the Clifton House, assumed the man
agcment, but summer hotels proved a drug in
market. The scheme failed, and ultimately the
whole outfit was turned over to the authorities
Of the University, who held a so, 600 mortgage
OIL tho premises and grounds In September,
1876, it was first occupied as college, few al
tcratlons being made i'll the internal arrange
mcnts.
The building was four-story frame, with
brick basement, a nansard-root, and cupo!a. 1t
was situated in a large park the only building
near 1t being the laundry. which was fortunate
" saved. The college was supplied with water
by an artcsian we'll. hut there was neither hose
nor appliances for throwing a stream, and the
efforts OF the spectators, nearly everybody IN
the village being on the ground, were confined
to saving the furniture aud library: More than
hall OF the tormer and nearly all the books
were removed to n place of safety. the
boys worKing with will. By $ O'Clock
the fire, which at first progressed slowly, had
nearly consumed the building, and an hour later
tie destruction was complete. The upper story
was not occupied, the College, which can accom-
twenty in residence. The fall term cnds Thur
day next. During the vacation arrangements
Will be made for the future. Meantime the
students will get few days extra holiday.
in its character, is practically under the control
31 ct thc Prcsbytcrians, the Synod Of Northern
Illinois nominating Visiting Committee.
Ihc faculty OF the College consisted Of Prof.
Hcwett anu Prof. Morris, the Academy being
and the Seminary under that OF the Rev. L. W
PATTERSON, u. D. The operations OF the two
last-hamed institutions will not be IntcrfcTcd
with by the disaster, and in all probability the
corporation. which includes in its membership
many wealthy and prominent citizens, will at
once take stcps to repair the damage
lhc insurance on the building amounts to
S15,o00. or this the British American Com
pany, Of Toronto, Cam; the Safeguard, OF New
YORK; Underwriters Association, Of New York;
Alliance, OF Boston, and Relief, OF New York,
each carried S2,500
The college authorities have rented tho Dick
lnson Home for rccitation-rooms until such
time as new buildings can be erected. There ]
will te little delay about rebuilding the col
eSe premises, and no interruption will occur to
tie course OF studies.