The daily gazette., 1882-02-17
LARGE FIRE AT CnEsTER.
THE PENNsYLvANIA MILITARY AoAI
EMY ENTIRELY DESTROYED.

THE PENNSYLVANIA. MILITARY AoAD-
EMY ENTIRELY DESTROYED.
The city Of Chester has suffered a
great loss In the destruction by fire, last
evening, of the weIl-known large and
conspicuous Military Academy, situated
on an eminence about one mile north
east Of the depot and near the outer
bounds OF the city. The building was
four stories in height, including high
basement. 1t was very solidly built OF
stone and was $50 feet long by 90 feet
wide. The centre front OF the building
was elevated and formed an additional
story; and in this part OF the structure,
wherein was the laboratory, the fire oc-
CURED. From this story access is omen
TO the loft on either side. The oripin
of the fire in the laboratory is not
known, IS 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 dis
covered on the upper floor, and flames
were seen breaking through the ceiling
from the loft, SO 1t was evident that the
fire had been burning in the loft for per
haps an hour before it was discovered,
and had in the meantime burned through
the loft in both directions. The alarm
was given, and the fire extinguishers Of
the academy brought into reQusitIon,
but the flames had attained too much
headway TO make them available, and
the alar m was sent out 10 the fire de-
pattment. 1t was q considerable length
Of time before any Of the apparatus ar
rived, owing to the bad rendition OF the
streets leading to the burning building.
By this time the whole upper story Of
the vast building was one sheet of q anne,
and all Efforts to save 1t were abandoned,
and attention turned to getting out its
contents.
The cadets were kept under strict
discipline and by their aid nearly
everything was removed from Che
building before the fire reached 1t. OF
course, in the hastY removal neces-
sary under the circumstances, much
of the furniture was considerably
damaged. The goods we're all placed
on the grounds surrounding the Acad-
emy, and the heavy rain which COM
menced falling shortly after damaged
much of the finer furniture and beds
beyond repair. The fire department,
when it did get to work, had to draw
its water from pond one hundred
and fifty yaros distant, but by its ex-
ertions the drill house, one-story
stone building, about two hundred
ana fifty feet long, situated just north
OF the Academy, was saved.
The cadets, 142 in number, escaped
all injury in any way, but many of
them lost articles OF clothing in the
confusion. They were ali returned to
their homes in the evening trains.
The flames in the course of half an
hour after they were discovered en-
veloIed the whole building and lit up
the country for miles around. At 10
! O'Clock last night the bare walls of the
building, smoke-begrimed and black
ened, were all standing, and the
debris, including large quantity of
coal in the cellar and the window
frames, burning bliskly. At about
the above hour the large portico COM
manding the main entrance to the
building was one mass of flame, and
was allowed to burn, as no further
damage could occur from it.
The structure was known as the
Pennsylvania Military Academy, and
was, since its construction, in charge
of Colonel Hyatt, by whose name the
Academy was more popularity known.
The cornerstone was laid in 1857, and
the whole building was completed and
occupied the following year. 1t was
very successful from its start and al
the time of its destruction was in fall
operation. The building and furni-
ture cost about 800, 200. The insur.
ance on the building is 100000 and
on the apparatus, furniture and ma
chinery between S15, 900 and $4,000.
Colonel Hyatt states that the AeAd-
emy will be rebuilt at once, and in
the meantime other quarters will bt
obtained in order TO continue tht
business of tho institution.