The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-10-24
INCENDIARY FIRE.
Bethany College Partially Burned
slS'f Yesterday Morning.
loss From Fifteen 70 Twenty thousand Dol.
itllats-FglIy Covered BY Insurance.

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;Iag.fl a wn1lspuno, October %.
EdIto1 Intslllgtnssr. .
iiNewshdSihg reached us here early thi
morning that the college at Bethany wa
on FIRE and would probably be totally dc
stroyed, your correspondent at once re
paired to the scene Of misfortune to as
certain the facts in the case, aud after ar
riying on the ground gathered the follow
Ing particulars. The FIRE was discovered
about 8 o'clock this morning by o Mr.
Priest, student who roomed In the base
ment ofthe building. Itbroke out In thl
north end Of the stately pile Of building
that make up one Of the finest college
ediaces in the United States. He at onct
gave the alarm and soon the whole village
population was raised and on their way tc
the scene, buckets in hand. By 5 O'Clock
the FIRE was under control. Fortunately
the building burned Is separated from the
main building by very thick FIRE proof
wall, and at this division the progress ol
the flames was stayed. The building burn.
cd was used by the three societies of the
college, and In It were their libraries and
a number Of very valuable pictures.
AS soon. .as II was learned that this build.
ing c6dld'not' be saved all efforts were di.
reeted to cutting of the progress
Of the fire ut the chemical room,
and they were fortunately successful, and
thus the main building was saved. The
whole college building, including the
burned portion, is four hu ndred and
twenty feet in length, and was erected at
a cost OF $4,000. It's fair proportions
have'been somewhat marred by this FIRE,
but we were glad to know that the loss il
fully covered by insurance, and that erelong
thesymmetrical pile will be fully restored
p It's handsome outlines. The insurance
Is $4,000 which will fully cover the loss.
A portion Of 1t is held by the franklin
and Peabody Companies Of Wheeling, by
the Amazon OF Cincinnati, and one or
two other companies.
This Isl the second calamity from fire
that has happened to Bethany College.
The first building was totally destroyed in
1858, and by an incendiary fire, too, such
as this one. There is no doubt
that the fire this morning is the work oil
an inCendiary, from the fact that the
southwest end was also fired, but failed to
ignite sufficiently to gain any damaging
headway before discovery. In that por.
ton Of the building was found jug con.
tanning carbon oil, q portion Of which had
been poured about the premises. The
finding Of this jug, and the manner in
which it was placed, show conclusively
the origin Of the FIRE.
The building destroyed cost in the
neighborhood Of $4,000, but as it is not
totally destroyed, the walls being still more
or less available, the. insurance will re.
place it. w
To look at the college as it stands on the
hill above the village, one would suppose
that fire once started could hardly be
extinguished. BUTT is wonderful what
can be done by willing workers in such
an emergency. The people went at the
work heart and soul. They formed line
to the village, and up to Prof. Pendleton's
house, and buckets appeared aud were
passed along from hand to hand as II by
magic. Ladders also appeared quickly on
the scene Of action, and blankets, quilts,
bed clothing Of all sorts; in short, every.
thing that would absorb water and fend
off By.all4these means the conaagra-
tion was stopped aud the college saved.
Great credit is due to the ladies OF the vii
lage, who, as usual, did noble part in
the good work accomplished. The high.
est praise is accorded them by everybody
present.
OF course this calamity will not inter.
fere with the progress Of the College ses,
sion, which commenced on the lst OF this
month and will continue as usual. The
total destruction Of the former building in
'5s did not suspend the course Of instruc'
tion, and much less will this FIRE prove
an obstruction. Due precautions will be
taken to guard against repetition Of this
incendiary attempt.
There were some very valuable pictures
rescued from the flames. We may men
ton particularly the oil paintings present
ed to the College by Keene Richards
Of Kentucky; which, as works of high art
were greatly priced by the friends OF th,
Iinshtntion.
Animportant question to the citizens o
Bethany arises in connection with thil
l.fire-Wio did ~ The answer to thil
question ID heard here on all sides, but O
course no name eau be mentioned in
print. There is well grounded suspicion
asto who did it. The person does moi
live in Bethany at present, but he has
lived there, and It is believed that he had
anaccomplice in the person Of an old sin
ner Of the nelghborhood. He Is believed
to be the same person who set fire to and
destroyed the farm Of Col. Alex. Camp