The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-10-21
SORROW At VERMILLlOh
The University Building Destroyed
by Fire.
10 lnsurance or III, Ruined Temple of
learning.-vhs President Announces
That the Institution Will Not
close...WiIl Be Rebuilt.

''sAs'iiA'itio-'t h's l'.i Wv. liS psO-
pie of Vermillion were awakened sun
lay morning by the alarm of fire. 1t
vas speedily discovered that University
null was on fire. 1t did not take long
20 arouse the entire town and soon hun
areds of people We're on the ground.
The fire was under great headway
when it was discovered and it was al
most impossible to check its progress
even temporarily. Two lines of hose
were attached to Il hydrant near the
building. but owing to the difficulty of
reaching the flames in the interior, not
much could be dcne with the water.
Students and citizens entered many
of the rooms and removed records, ap-
parntus, books and geological speci-
mems Not over oie-third of the mis-
cellaneous library was saved, all OF the
public documents being burned.. A
good deal OF the apparatus in the de-
partment of physics was gotten out.
Every thing in the geological depart
ment was saved with the exception of
some cases Thedepartmcnto of biology
suffered severely, losing large amount
of valuable apparatus and specimens.
The entire economic and philosophic
libraries were burned. The library of
the English department was taken out
without any damage. The college of
music lost five pianos and an organ.
by 8 o'clock, two hours from the
time the fire was first seen, University
hall was a mass of smoking ruins and
students and citizens stood around and
mournfully contemplated the wreck.
1t is a difficult matter to estimate the
loss at this time. 1t is variously esti-
mated at from $4,000 to 100000.
There was no insurance on the building
or its contents.
As soon as the fire was over the char
acteristic energy and buoyant spirit of
President MauclS was shown by the
prompt announcement upon the streets
and later in the churches that there
would be no interruption in the work
of the university. and that all classes
would go on in the remaining buildings
on Tuesday. The sentiment received
the hearty sanction of the citizens, for
hardly had the flames died down before
propositions We're being discussed for
the immediate rebuilding of the struc-
ture. 1t is impossible to say just what
action will be taken. but is safe to pre-
diet that before another day passes the
citizens here will set on foot some
plans for the restoration OF the lost
building.
There were several narrow escapes
from severe accidents during the fire y
falling wall severely injured Ernest
Fisher. Mr.. Huetson who was stand
ing near him was grazed by the falling
mass of stone and received some
scratches, having one shoe partly torn
from his foot. Several students were
in the library removing books when
the falling of the plastering and some
of the tilnbers above warned them to
flee. They all escaped without injury
save one, MIR. Wallace, who jumped tc
the ground, receiving slight injuries.
Prof Dubee, director OF the college
of music. lost a. valuable collection ol
music which he valued at $500. Miss
Williams, professor of vocal music, lost
$500 worth OF music in her room.
At supper time Sunday evening Pres
ldent Maacl1 placed in the hands of the
students n circular announcing tht
continuance of the work without any
| break.
Pianos and furniture are freely placed
Mt the disposal OF the institution by
! citizens, and had not the uni
| versity rooms which can be utilized fol
class rooms for the present the towr
would freely provide all such accommo
| datious.
The origin of the fire is n mystery. ]
seems evident that it did not start il
the vicinity of the furnaces Defective
! fiues spontaneous combustion, etc, ar,
| garious theories advanced to accom-
| for the origin of the fire. No blam,
can be attached to any one for the dis
| aster.
Fatality by fire seems in some wa.
connected with the late Dir. Olson. Th,
valuable oil painting portrait of hin
which hung in the chapel. a present t
the university by minneapolis artist
was lost in the fire, there being n
chance to enter the chapel after any
one reached the building.
The courageous, united and cheerful
spirit manifested everywhere by cit
zens, faculty and students lightens tn
| otherwise depressing effects of the sit
uation for the university.