Litchfield enquirer., 1879-11-20
GREAT FIRE AT HAMPTON IN-
 STITUTE
ACADEMIC HALL ENTIRELY DESTROYED; TWEN. TY-FIVE STUDENTS LOSE NEARLY ALL THEIR
 EARTHLY POSSESSIONS

} time, but one thing and another has taken my time and attention till now, when I am almosi forced into it by the great disaster that has fallen upon us.
 On Sunday evening, Nov. 9th, at about o'clock the cry of Fire, Fire FSre! was heard at Hampton Institute, followed by the ringing of the fire bell. Running and looking out of an upper window in our cottage, we saw a small light through the window in the attic of Academic Hall, which seemed of little conse- quence. Putting on our shoes and hat we ran fo: the building, but, before reaching it the whole was in flames. The school engine and hose cart immediately came up and prepared for work. Some little time was lost in getting the hose arranged, although the hall stood within eight rods of the waters edge. There was stiff southerly breeze which helped on the fire, and the water thrown by. the engine did very little good. The steam engine and hose cart from the Soldiers home was on the ground as soor as possible. followed, about half an hour after, by the engine and fremen from Fortress Monroe, but the fire had made such rapid headway that they were of no avail. Citizens, teachers, students and visit- ors, did their utmost to save the books and papers from Gen. Armstrongs and Gen. Mar shall's offices. Almost every thing movable was taken out of them except the large fire proof safe.
 Only a small portion of the library was saved, and many of the books which were sav- ed were badly injured by being thrown out of a second story window to the ground. The beautiful collection of Hawaiian curiosities, in fact, the entire stock of minerals and shells, was destroyed That collection will be hard to duplicate.
 The furniture and apparatus in the building which was used for study and recitation pur- poses, was, with few exceptions, burned up. Twenty-Five boys who roomed in the upper stories of the building, lost with the exception of what they had on, nearly all their earthly possessions. It was fortunate for them that the fire happened on Sunday night, for they were dressed in their good clothes and thus saved them. When the fire broke cut, the school was assembled for the usual Sunday evening lecture, and Rev. MT. Mclean from Litchfield, was expected to speak. The first hymn was being sung, when one of the stu dents came in hastily and told Gen. Armstrong that Academic Hall was on fire Motioning to the cholr leader to stop singing, he told the girls to be seated and the boys to pass out, as Academic Hall was on fire. There was little or no confusion. As soon as they reached the l l,:l ho1 with will and rushed to the fire. Some of the girl students were so much frightened that they tainted away.
 It was cheering to see the teachers and girl students doing all Tn their power for the pres ervation of the property taken from the burn- ing building. One would think it almost inn possible for them to carry such heavy loads, but an occasion like that seems to lend for the time almost super-human strength. The ear nest spirit manifested by the teachers was strikIngly illustrated by the one who picked up drawer full of books and papers to carry to | place of safety. She managed to lift it, but tripped and fell with the heavy burden. We turned to assist her to rise, but she sad very earnestly, 'don't mind me-" scrambled up, and resumed her work.
 | The Rev. Allan Mclean, who came here on Friday night for a short visit, attended the 1 Ocean Cottage Sunday School, taking class and addressing the school at g a. m. preached at Bethesda Chapel, the Hampton Institute church, at Il a. m. went over in boat and addressed the people in the Ocean Cottage Chapel at 3 p. m.; and, in the evening from 7 to 12, had enough to occupy his hands and at tention at the fire. He will probably remem- Der his Sunday in Hampton as one of the bus fest of his life. It was indeed pleasant to see him, as he is the first man from old Litchfeid that wehave seen since we have been here He was remarking on the combustibility of the material of which the large buildings at Hamp- ton Institute were made, only the day before the fire, saying that there would be little or no chance of saving them if a fire broke out. His words were verified sooner than we anticipa- ted and he was here to witness their verifca- tion.
 A very unpleasant feature of the occasion was the number of unconcerned spectators, standing with hands in their pockets, laughing and chatting as if taking holiday, not offer ing to do anything. We overheard the re- mark several times from such groups-'It is a rich firm, and perfectly able to build it up again"
 After the fire became too dangerous to save anything more, we had an opportunity for ad- miring the grandeur of the scene The build ing was four stories high, made outside of hard burnt brick, finished inside with oiled heart pine, and therefore burnt like tar bar rel. The night was dark. A motley crowd was assembled on tue school grounds. Three fire engines were busily at work, giving now and then shrill whistle, which, mingled with the confused shouting from the crowd, made | it all seem like aduoning dream, The flames, as if in defiance of the means taken for thelr extinguishment, seemed to leap higher and burn faster as the streams of water were poGr- ed upon them. With a crash one section of timbers fell, and then another, each adding brilliancy to the majestic scene We could not help thinking how insignificant and power less is man with his many devices, at war with | the Fire King. It was scene never to be forgotten, and we have no wish to witness another like it.
 Some things from the chemical laboratory were saved: Among them, demijohn full of some chemical fluid. An old soldier from the "Home, who saved it said he had good mind to take ''swIg," as it smelled like whiskey. The suggestion that it might prove his last ''swig, "caused him to set it down and return to duty. When the fire reached the chemical room there was beautiful display. Flames of almost every imaginable color were produced.
 About fifty tons of coal were in the cellar, and although stream of water was constant ly played upon it, it burned for three days. Seventy-five barrels of sweet potatoes, and ff- | taap borro1c of Trish rofofoao iy tho oollor