Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-02
BURNING OF NoTRE DAME.
The Great Catholic University Laid Ia
Ruins.


Ind, Of the 2Srd gives the following ac-
count of the burning Of Notre Dame:
Shortly before ii O'clock this forenoon
word reached this city that the MYERS
ity OF Notre Dame, two miles distant,
was on fire. \ glance toward NOtra
Dame confirmed the unpleasant news.
Below the clouds OF black smoke, which
the wind lifted and carried OH 10 the
east, stood the magnificent buildings of
Noue Dame university, the church of
the Sacred Heart, the iniirmarV, Supc-
rior generals home, Music hall. Wash
ington hall, Mnims' hail, old Mems
home and adjacent buildings in bold
relief III the clear sunlight. Around the
huge dome Of the university building
whose windows flashed in the sun like
crystal, the brilliant distressing flames
Tapped out their fiery tongues and shot
upward as il trying TO swallow the mag
niticent statue OF the Blessed Nirsin
which surmouutcG the dome. Ii was
soon evident, at this distance even,
that the fire tiend was doing its de-
structive work all too well, and that
before the assistance which our clang-
ing irehells had brought and was hur-
rving to Notre Dame could reach there
that dome and statue would have to 60.
In II few minutes the flames triumphed,
and the immense statue with its golden
crown and superb proportions crashed
down through the tire-weaSened dome
in utter ruins. This statue was over
ten feet III height, and weighed two
thousand pounds. Above the centre 81
the six storied building had been erect
ed specially for ii a lofty dome, built
ON the model of the one AZ st. Peters
IN Rome. On the lst of May, 1896,
the colossal statue was blessed 10y
Archbishop Spaldng, and placed in
position, there being present ON this
occasion thousands Of people from
every part Of the United States and
CanadaS. This statue, raised amidst
somuch JOY and eXultation, doomed the
building to destruction, for when it fell
it crushed through several floors, car
ryiug u stream of fire in its track,
which rapidly spread TO every point OF
the building and along every floor. AT
this time the direst confusion prevailed.
The twenty-four thousand pound bell
in the church of the Sacred Heart was
Changing its loudest accompa-
MED by the thirty or forty other small
bells in the chime. Halless and coat.
less, students Were dragging their trunks
down the broad stone steps. Priests
and brothers had thrown aside their
habits and were working with will ear
rying furniture and valuable articles
from the burning building out TO the
lawn, depositinG them among the flow
ers and evergreens. Beds and pillows
were shooting out of the upper story
windows in all imaginary shapes.
Kerosene lamps, tables and chairs and
books and desks came flying to the
ground ON all sides, and Were more or
less destroyed. Under the cool super
vision Of President Corhy, who was as
sisted in giving orders by Mother Am
gela, Of st. Mary's academy, most Of
the five or six hundred beds from the
domnitories were carried to the gardens
in the rear OF tho university and taken
care of by the sisters, who worked
faithfully all day and far into the night.
Mayor Tong, who is also II professor in
the institution, arrived on the spot soon
after the fire broke out, aud, taking in
the situation mt n glance, turned his
horse toward the city to arouse the de
partment. Meanwhile people from the
city began to arrive by the score, aud
all Immediately went To work. The
wind blew stoutly from the west, caus-
ing the flames to soon burst through the
mansard roof ON the eastern side,
and II became apparent 10 all that
the building was doomed. With ter
rible crash the cornice fell Mt this point,
barely escaping crushing number OF
men who were coming down the steps
with large book cases. At 1850 the
flames had gained such Roadway that
it was deemed unsafe to remain in the
building longer, and Prof. Lyons, who
with great GOODNESS seemed To be di.
recting affairs, ordered every one to
leave. The museum, with its hundreds
Of costly specimens and two valuable
libraries, was abandoned to the flames.
Every attention was soon turned to the
lntirmary and the Old Mems home, the
next buildings east, and they were COM
pletely riddled of their contents, but
none too soon, for the sparks and the
terrible heat from the University leaped
over to the roofs OF these, and in less
time than it takes to tell it they were on
fire. At fifteen minutes Of II a steamer
and three hose carts from South Bend,
drawn by horses and followed by a
number Of firemen, passed along the
west side OF the university building,
back to the engine-room. Just then
the Mapsard roof fell to the ground
with terrible crash, barely escaping
crushing men, horses, hose-carts,
steamer and all beneath it. The
steamer was set TO work nj
the cistern, and with combined
hose the tiremen were soon able 10 get
stream on the flames, but it was ol
little avail 81 intense WAS the heat
they could do nothing but endeayor TO
protect the surrounding buildings. The
Am Maria and scholastic printing Offices
were completely delivered Of their con
tents. Everything was removed from
the building but the presses. The
science bah, where were innumerable
and costly instruments, was also re-
lieved Of its contents, and the beautiful