The Ottawa free trader., 1888-11-24
Galesburg, H., Nov Is, 1888.

| dii hc hau So justly i'ot'
WMW. WEIGH
Galesburg, Ill., Nov Is, 1888.
The burning of Monticello Seminary,
sunday Morning at o'clock, Nov. L.
Extracts from n private letter TO her par
ents, by Miss G. Whittleseyl
had written so many letters about the
fire | forgot that | had not written you the
particulars at first; then | expected to 90
home. | will begin now at the beginning.
Saturday morning about o'clock, hearing
a noise In my room, rose and lighted my
gas and found flying squirrel Having
let him out did not get much more sleep,
so Saturday night, after the visiting teach
ers left my room, was In bed at 10 80 or
II o'clock, and very tired. 1t seemed
had been asleep but short time when
heard someone, whose voice | recognized
as that of Miss StrOelin, teacher, saying:
"Dont you smell something" Half asleep
| said "No' She said "Look out of your
window (Miss S, is very near sighted
leaned far out and locked, and horror of
horrors! The yard and air were dense with
smoke and the flames leaping through the
kitchen roof and rising as high as the
chimney.
You know the building-110x44 feet,
faces east; on the west, In the rear, at the
northeast end lie the kitchen, running back
at right angle. 1t is two stories and of
wood, connecting with the main building At
Its western extremity and extending south,
is the laundry and other buildings, SO that
the rear is virtually an enclosed court
ran at once to Miss Stroeln's room next
to mine, saying: at is the kitchen 1t is
all on firem The servants girls have
their rooms over the kitchen They were
screaming wildly! Miss Rowe, teacher,
whose room is next to Miss Stroelln's, heard
us talking and came to tine hall to see what
was the matter. Then they woke Miss
Buttner, who is opposite Miss Rowe. |
then ran all through the main building and
wing on the third floor, wax ing the teach
ers up. Some girls heard me knocking
so loudly and came to the door to see what
was the matter. | wondered why an out
side bell did not ring for help, and think
ing that Miss Pendleton, matron, and Miss
Haskell, principal, did not know what had
happened, ran down to the first floor,
bare footed and in my night dress. 1t was
five minutes of one O'clock as passed the
hall clock. As reached the first floor, |
saw Mrs. p. rushing abou. and | said
"Mrs, Pendleton, do you know" She
held up her hands and said, II know all !"
She had been wakened by the smoke. Her
room Is under mine, two floors below. She
rushed to Miss Haskell's room and could
scarcely speak, but managed to calculate,
"kitchen and firer Miss Haskell said
"Wake the men and will tell the teach
ers." But we knew 1t already.
The men rang the bell till the belfry fell
and the rope burned the church bell rang.
The Persons, half mile away, rang their
outside bell; Mrs p, telephoned to the
railway station for help, asking the opera,
tor to telegraph to Alton, four miles away;
an engineer at the station whistled long and
loud Meantime | went to my room-now
Al
had been turned off through the purifying
room to prevent explosion. | grasped my
shoes and put them on without stockings,
threw my travelling dress over me, grasped
my box of jewelry, purse and watch box |
had no more idea that massive stone build
ing would burn than that rcck woul
burn. thought the wood building would
burn but nothing more. Thinking that
the house would be full of strangers aiding
to put out the fire, thought | would tax e
my valuables TO the cottage, one ghth of
mile. | threw on shawl, went and re-
TUNED. My room, which is third story,
back room and north of the center of the
main building, towards tue end which
the kitchen adjoins.-my room was
ttN IF smoke, and, oh! so hot, the very
floor felt hot, Maxtield came In and said
to him: "How long can stayv He said
had better not stay long. took sheet
and spread ii out on the bed and threw In a
few things laid out for morning, went to
drawers and grabbed collars, cuffs, and
handful of handkerchiefs, opera glasses
went TO closet and took some dresses. hat