Morning journal and courier., 1891-10-07
A HARD FOUGHT FIRE.

"Au1y " "IeCAcu-FAkCcA xhVoAAAD OAA Fire - The Fifty-TwO Rooms for Students and the Recitation Halls Deluged With Water-New Haven's Water Supply Abundant Despite the Drouth-The Total Loss by the Fire Estimated at About $3O,OOO to $4O,OOO - Valuable Libraries Damaged The Students Lose $1O,OOO.
 At about S:30 last night H. D. Parmelee '95, saw fire bursting forth from the Divinity hall, corner of Elm and College streets. He ran down College street yell ing fire and trying to get key. Officer Wiser was coming up towards the college and pulled the box. The engines were soon on hand and playing on the fire before the students, who were thronging into the halls on &C., count of the smoke, had hardly decided what was the matter. In few minutes more about all of Yale's 2,000 students and about 10, 900 town peo- pie were on hand, including hundreds of women folks. The crowd was kept back by ropes.
 IT. D. hdIIl5Ou, d ulflullJ 5UuSACAG 1OOun- ing on the Fifth floor, was among the first ence thus: "I smelled smoke and went into my bed room. found it filled with smoke and the sides at a red heat From the windows I could see the flames and hurried into the hall to give the alarm. The hall was filled and before we knew it the firemen were there."
 The fire spread quickly through the attic and at S:55 second alarm was sounded. From half-past eight until after ten the fire bafled the efforto of the fremen. At about il the fire was entirely out and at midnight the recall was sounded.
 How the fire started is not exactly known, but in all probability it was from defective fue near the room of MT. F. B. Harrison in the north tower of the hall. Fire was started in the furnaces yesterday. There had been no fire in the building for a week or two, owing to the warm spell. There is no indication that lamp explod- ed or that something caught fire from 8 gas fixture. Every room has been careful 1y searched and nothing that will carry out this hypothesis can be seen.
 Marshal Kennedy said "The fire started somewhere in the attic and probably from defective fue, but just where it originated, don't believe anybody knows, and it can't be known until tomorrow when the excitement will have subsided and an investigation can be made.
 The attic and fifteen of the students rooms were gutted by the flames. Mansard roofs are always hindrances in time of fire, but the fremen say Divinity was especial ly hard; but it seemed impossible to get 8 draught through, so that the smoke could escape. Finally, however, the fremen cut through the tin and slate covering of the roof.
 The greatest damage, however, was done | by the water, which penetrated tho walls | and stood six inches deep on the top floor and two inches deep even on the ground floor. All the plastering is destroyed and l new roof will have to be put on. 1 The damage to the building was esti- mated by Marshal Kennedy at $10,000. which is very conservative estimate. The | building, however, is insured, and doubt less enough to more than cover this. How ever, it will be a long time before the reel tation rooms on the first floor can be used, and several month before the students can reoccupy their rooms. Last night they were receiving every hospitality from 1 their friends among the college men. The students rooming in the building suffered most, and, in the main, on ac- count of the water. Professors Day, Bras tow, Harris, Fisher, Stevens and ex-Presi- | dent Porter had valuable libraries there l that were either ruined or at least badly injured. The combined libraries must have amounted to from 10000 to 15,00C books. There was 8 missionary library belonging to the university amounting tc about 5000 volumes that was somewhat injured. Practically nothing was saved by the students unharmed, especially ir the fifteen Or twenty rooms where the fire | ragged. What was saved was scattered l about-some of it in Marquand chapel water, or left in the rooms, was spoiled by the fire or water. One man had twenty dollar bill burned, and now and then poor student shed tears over seeing hi goods destroyed.
 Fifteen thousand dollars worth of per of insurance is not too larg, an estimate of the loss of the stu dents themselves. The telegraph office was being overrun late last night by mes sages being sent to the parents for funds.
 Professor Day felt the damage done tt the field of his activity as poignantly a self philosophically: "Some good mus come out of it."
 Among the men on the upper foorswht suffered most are: Ingraham, Park, liar rison, Kehls, H. G. Small, H. NJ. God dard, G. H. Flint, David L. Kiddi, w. Moulton, Lawson and Birley.
 A detail from No. 3 was stationed b, Fire Marshal Kennedy to watch the build ing. At just 12 o'clock they reported tn fire out and then all but 8 few men wen home.
 | This is the first serious fire that Val has sustained in many years, with the ex l of ixyalry 1Srt,k :, South Middle last winter.
 Happening at this time of the year tn fire is very unfortunate indeed, and not very pleasing piece of news to give to tn | president on his return
 It was fortunate that while many cite throughout the state have 8 scarcity o water, the supply in New Haven is stil abundant and amply sufficient for tn needs of last nights fire. Had the wate supply been lacking the fire last nigh would have proven disastrous indeed. Chief Hendricks and Fire Marshal Ken nedy worked like beavers, and to their en ergy and cool direction is due he credit able manner in which the fire was fought
 The sexton of the Methodist church, a which meeting had been held, kept thu church open so that in case of need | might be used by the homeless student for storing furniture.
 Owing to the blockade the Centervill cars had to transfer their passengers a the ropes.
 The students showed their love fol 'sgood old Yale" and sympathy for those rooming in Divinity by helping in al sorts of ways, such as carrying out furni ture and carrying up the hose.
 Street, of the Palladium, was knocked down, narrowly escaping injury in stam pede from a room in which, the ceiling wa falling.
 The university is to be congratulated that the Lowell and Mason library, whicl contains the finest collection of churcl music in the world, was altogether unin jured.
 At o'clock the few fremen who hat been left on duty with hose carriage No. departed.
 New Haven Polo Club. The directors of the New Haven pol club hold meeting in the parlors of tn Elliott house on Friday evening to perfec