The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-07-18
THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
by Fire OF the Library, the
Museum, the Laboratory, Profess
ser Jordan's Collection
OF Fishes.
The Old Building Saved by the Fire Engines
and Heroic Work OF Citizens.
Bloomington Telephone


The new University Building is in ashes,
and only the rag ed walls built so firm and
strong, now stand to point to the observer
the once magnificent building that was the
pride of our little city and an honor to the
Commonwealth OF Indiana.
Thursday night about half-past 10 o'clock
the old University bell began to peal forth
its familiar tones, though strange to that
time and under the circumstances. And
soon the people were out on the street won
dering what could cause its ringing little
thinking that the fiery flames would so soon
visit us again with such disastrous results
1t was only few minutes, however until
the cry that 1.-The new College on fire. rang
out in the night air, and the second story
was in flames. In the mean time when the
alarm was first given, Engineer Howe and
Fireman Sibeit were on duty and the "San-
derson" was preparing for the duty before
her. A crowd of citizens, including the
fremen, soon pulled the steamer to the els
tern, opposite the school building, and soon
the clang of the bell announced that the hose
reel was on hands. 1t was only a few minutes
until the thousand feet was stretched from
the engine up to the burning building. In
the mean time the flames had developed so
rapidly that no power could extin-
guish the fire, as the second
story was all on fire and the explosives in the
labratory burning while the forked blaze was
fast running to the top of the building. The
hand engine wss placed at the cistern near
the building and did good work, while the
steamer was pouring out water in a steady
stream.
1t Was not long, however, until it was evil
dent that the new building must go, and at
once attention was directed to saving the old
building that Joins it on the northeast. Wa
ter was poured upon it in torrents the engine
now teing at the branch east of the College,
al it as only BIZ keeping the roof running
with water that it was saved from catching,
as a high wind prevailed, and at times it
seemed rs il the air WAS filled with sparks
1t was not long until it was evident that
this danger was over, as steady stream had
kept the north wall from falling. and it was
almost impossible for the flames to get be
yond control. By half-past IL O'Clock the
building was in ashes, the woodwork almost
all having been burned, and only the smok-
ir & walls and burning timbeTs as they Law ON
the ground now marked the scene of the dis
fster.
Thtre are many theories as to how the
building caught on fire, but very careful
investigation from all parties who could have
any k0ONieuSe OI Tue dtldlT, t0SIo S6eflS u
be no doubt but that ii was fred by lightning
as curing the entire evening severe thunder
storm was raging 1t is supposed that the
ei6 ctr city was carried into the building BY
telephone wire that run into Professor Wy
lies room, on the second story, for it was
here the fire was discovered first AS there
WIS very close discharge about quarter
past eight that was known to have struck
near from the terrible report, it is accepted
that this wire carried the lightning in the
room, and slowly it caught, taking SO much
time to make headway. This is su bstan-
tiated by the fact that a light was noticed in
the room soon after the strike by passing
parties, but supposed to be somebody in the
building with lamp, as such was often the
case. There is no evidence of incendiarism,
as sill the doors were locked and the flames
were confined to this ROOM and in ii was the
electric battery.
THE LOSS.
By the time sufficient number of people
were present to do anything 1t was too late to
save much. The museum was entered, but
only few cases OF little value were saved. II
was impossible to reach the laboratory at all,
and no one entered The library, so it was a
total less