Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-10-24
BETHANY COLLEGE.
THE BEAUTIFUL STRUCTURE PAR
TALLY DESTROYED.
The Old Wing with Its Valuable Libraries
Laid in Ashes-The Work Of an
lncendiary, and the fiend
Still at Large.
LOSS LARGE, BUT COVERED BY IN
SURANCE.

Shortly before o'clock yesterday
morning, the exciting news was teie-
graphed this Office, from Wellsburg,
that Bethany College, that grand old in,
stitution at once the ornament and
pride OF Brooke county, was on fire and
would be burned to the ground. The
bad news spread with perverbial rapid.
itv, and ere long had been heralded
throughout the city. A bulletin at the
REGISTER office continued to attract at
tention throughout the day, and by
evening the interest was undiminlshed.
MANY alumni of the college are citizens
of Wheeling, and they took fearful in
terest in the destruction Of their Alma
Mater. 1t was known, too, that several
of our home insurance companies held
policies on the building, and their offices
were besieged during the day. A REGISTER
courier was hastily dispatched to the
scene to gather full particulars, while
those interested contented themselves
with the occasional and meagre dis
patches.
Hon. Lynn Rodgers, of Bethany, came
10 the city, with later returns, showing
the status TO be less disastrous that at
first supposed, the fire having been con-
fined TO one wing. subsequently, our
envoy returned, with the following ac-
count:
Shortly after 8 o'clock in the morning,
flames were discovered issuing from the
northeast wing OF the College, when
contained the richly furnished halls OF
the American, metropolitan and Adei-
phian literary societies, and one class
room. Prof. b. c. Hagerman,. who
sleeps in the College build
inc. was awakened by the
Kissing and cracking of the flames, and
was among the first 10 give the alarm,
and in a very short time about all OF the
inhabitants OF the village of Bethany
were on the grounds working nobly to
save the magnificent building. The la
dies i'm particular worked with such en-
erpv and vim as to call forth the highest
encomiums.
The splendid and costly libraries be-
longing TO the societies, together with
paintings and furniture, were consumed.
Five valuable paintings of Scenes in
the Holy Land" by Troye, and pre-
sented bv Keene Richards, OF George
town, Kentucky, were fortunately res
cued from the burning building before
the flames reached them. These paint.
ings are of the highest grade OF art, and
are valued at 81 900 each. They were
hanging in the Adelphian Hall.
The wing was totally destroyed, and
il was only by the almost superhuman
efforts Of the people that the fire was
confined to the building where 1t orr
mated A fire.proOf wall between the
destroyed wing and the main building
also helped to hold the fire tiend In
check.
The wing, totally destroyed, was prob
ably the finest portion OF the college
building. and was built in 1889. The
chemical department is in the main
building, adjoining the wing, and con-
siderable quantities of acids, oils, ex.
plosiyes. etc, were stored there, and
had the fire reached it, the whole struc.
ture would certainly have been de-
strOyed. =.
The fire was the work of an incendi-
arv, as those who were first in the
building noticed that the floors were
saturated with coal oil. A jug, with
coal oil in it, was found in the corridor
after the fire was extinguished.
An attempt was also made to set fire to
the southwestern part OF the building,
but il was discovered by student who
slept in the building, in time TO prevent
much damage. The floor here, as in the
destroyed portion, was saturated with
coal oil.
The blackened walls of the burned
edifice are standing, and they present a
sad and gloomy appearance IN contrast
with the balance OF the truly beautiful
architectural structures.
The entire loss is estimated at about
S25 900. but is insured. Prof. c. l.. Loos
having no doubt the building was fully
covered by insurance.
Acts OF incendiarism are becoming
alarmingly frequent in the neighbor-
hood Of Bethany, and the people are
thoroughly aroused and are taking ac-
tive means TO discover the dastardly
fend or fiends, as there are more than
one person suspected.
Col. Alexander Campbell lost a barn
a short time ago by fire, the work OF an
pected OF burning it is also under suspl-
cion as being the firebug who fired the
College building. He is missing, and
parties are securing the country looking
Tor him, and if he is found he might not
get the benefit OF Judge or jury.
DR.. Shriver, a prominent citizen OF
Wellsburg, in speaking of the fire, said
ave do not know whose property will
90 next" The Doctor was member OF
the celebrated Smelling Committee"
gotten up at Bethany for the
protection and safety OF its citizens and
property, and for that reason he said
che was one OF the marked men"
Prof Pendlcton, President OF the Col
lege, was at Chicago, but was promptly
telegraphed to, and will probably arrive
here to-day.
There are eighty-two students in at
tendance, but the fire will not interrupt
their studies. as there is plenty OF room
in the main building for all purposes.
The College authorities and Brooke
county and three or four responsible in
diyiduals offer reward OF 81 900 for the
arrest and conviction OF the incendiaries.
The reward may be increased when Prof.
Pendleton arrives home.
As nearly as can be learned, the Col
lege building was insured for $50 600;
the Franklin, OF this city, holding slO,-
OOO the Peabody 5000, the Amazon,
Of Cincinnati, 5000, and the balance IN
a mutual company, probably IN New
York. The loss is now estimated at
about $4,000, according to dispatch,
though Mr. Rodgers is OF the opinion
So, 600 will no more than restore the
building and libraries.
,.o,, ,,ro,. Elapnal only 10lc nor