Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-02-17
AN ACADEMY BURNED.
HYATT'S MILITARY COLLEG Z AT CHES-
TER TOTALLY DESTROYED.
4 Fire Breaks Out IN the Laboratory De-
stroyinE the Fine Building and In
volvinS a Loss of 100000
Partially Covered by

A Fire Breaks Out IN the Laboratory De-
sfroyinS the Fine Building and In
yolvinS Loss of 100000
Partially Covered by
Insurance.
The city Of Chester, in Delaware county,
has suffered great loss in the destruction
by fire, last evening, Of the well-kIowD.
large and conspicuous Military Academy.
situated on an eminence about one mile
northeast Of the depot and near the outer
bounds Of the city. The building was
four stories in height, including 4 high
basement. 1t was very sound!y built Of
stone and was 230 feet long by so feet
wide. The centre front Of tho building
was elevated and formed an additional
story, and in this part of the structure
wherein was the laboratory, the fire oc-
CURED. From tins story access Is open to
the loft on either side. The origin of the
fire in the laboratory is not known, As that
department was vacant at the time.
The cadets finished their afternoon
drill shortly after five o'clock, and upon
retiring to their rooms smoke was discov
cred on the upper floor, and flames We're
sen breaking through the ceiling from the
loft, 50 it was evident that the lire had
been burning in the loft for perhaps an
hour before il WAS discovered, aud had in
tuC tAS ioAt III
both directions. The alarm was given,
anil the tire extiuguishers of the academy
brought into requisition, but the flames
had attained too much Roadway to make
them available, and the alarm was sent
out To the fire department. 1t was con-
siderable length of time before any of the
apparatus arrived, owing to the bad con-
dition Of the streets leading to the burning
building. BY this time the whole upper
story of the vast building was one sheet of
flame. and all efforts to save it were aban
|'dOnea, and attention turned to getting out
it's contents.
The cadets were kept under strict dis
cipline and by their aid nearly everything
was removed from the building before the
fire reached it. OF course, in the hasty
removal necessary under the circum-
| stances, much of the furniture was con-
siderably damaged. The goods were all
placed on the grounds surrounding the
academy, and the heavy rain which COM
menccd falling shortly after damaged
much Of the finer furniture and beds be-
yond repair. The fire department, when
it did get to work, had to draw it's water
from pond one hundred and fifty yards
distant, but by its exertions the drill
house, a one story stone building, about
two hundred and fifty feet long, situated
just north Of the academy, was saved.
The cadets, 142 in number, escaped all
injury III any way, but many OF them
lost articles of clothing in the confusion.
They were all returned to their homes in
| the evening trains. The flames in the
course OF half an hour after they were
discovered engeloped the whole building
and lit up the country for miles around.
! At 10 o'clock last night the bare walls Of
the building, smoke begrimcd and black
cned, were all standing, and the debris,
including q large quantity of coal in the
cellar an,i the window frames, burning
briskly. At about the above hour the
large portico commanding the main en-
! trance to the building was one mass Of
flames, and was allowed to burn, as no
further damage could occur from it.
The structure was known as the Penn
sylvania military academy, and was, since
it's construction, in charge Of Colonel
Hyatt, by whose name the academy was
more popularity known. The corner stone
was laid in June, 1867, and the whole
building was completed and occupied the
| following year. 1t was very successful
from its start and at the time Of its dc
struc.inn was in full operation. The
building and furniture cost about 500,
600. The insurance on the building is
5000, and on the apparatus, furniture
| machinery between $4,000 and 500, COO.
Co!one! Hyatt states that the academy
will DC rebuilt at once, and iii the mean
time other quarters will be obtained iii
| order to continue the business of the inst-
tuition.
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"Wtt CALI. 1T PLUNDERING.''