The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-05-30
Origin or CIemson,s Fire. ].

FoRr HILL, May 24.-There are two or
three theories af0at as to the origin OF
the 3fire at Clemson College on the morn
ing of the 22d. The one most generally
accepted ss correct Is this:
when the furniture and specimens from
the old agricultural department In Co
lumbia were removed to Clemson there
were mum Der OF specimens of fruit put
up in brandy and alcohol. It has been
noticed for some weeks past and brought
to the attention of the faculty that these
liars Of liquor were being tampered with.
They were stored in the large room used
as museum on the third floor. 1t Is
now thought that some person went TO
this room to steal the liquor and in some
way started the FIRE.
y One of the men first on the scene says
that space about ten feet square was
burning when he arrived. The hose was
carried in, ard as soon as the water was
thrown on the jars filled with alcohol
they burst, liberating the liquor, which
ignited and sent Q blaze up to the roof:
This is said to have besn the critical
moment, for the hose would not throw
water to the roof, and It consequently
caught fire. The building may be said
to have been lost from this time, as the
fire being in or near the centre of the
structure soon spread in every direction.
Had the pressure been sufficient to have
thrown, several bold streams to the roof
the building might have been saved.
The stand pipe is eighty feet high, the
bottom being on about the same elevation
as the foor of the second.story Of the
main building. The pipe is sad to have
had about sixty feet OF water at the be-
ginning of the FIRE. Owing to the long
fine of mains through which water has to
come or to some other cause not satisfac-
torily explained, the pressure did not
come up to expectation. The mains are
so arranged that water can be pumped
direct from tho tank without going
through stand pipes this was done as
long as the water lasted, but the tank was
soon exhausted and consequently the
engine became useless.
A large part Of the western wall TEL!
yesterday afternoon. The debris Is still
smoking at this writing III q. m.l a
strong detail Of cadets has watched the
smoking ruins each night since the tire,
and sentinels walk post during the day
to prevent cadets and citizens alike from
venturing too near the cracking walls.
College exercises were resumed yester-
day. There is great dissatisfaction
amongst the cadets at the present condi-
ton Of things. They say that the facili-
ties for carrying on the classes are too
limited and they do not think much good
is to be gained by staying. A petition to
be presented to the board meeting to-
morrow is getting many signatures. One
hundred and forty names are already
attached and two hundred are expected
to sign. This petition asks the board of
trustees to close the College for the pres.
ent and give vacation now instead OF next
winter. Thirty odd boys left yesterday
and to-day.
All the apparatus ia the physical labo-
ratory prof. Welch) was sayed, ipclud-
ing a German air pump, said to be the
first in the South. A lot OF valuable
charts and maps in Prof. Morrisop's
room were lost. The professor had
valuable private library in his room.
large part of which was lost. Most OF
the books in tbs College library We're
saved by the prompt ekertions OF Cadet
Librarian D. L. Smith and his assistants:
Prof. Furman lost some books and
maps OF. value. Everything in the presi..
dents room was saved, also the new and
handsome carpets belonging respectively
to the Calhoun and Palmetto debating
societies.-Special to &esos and Courier.