The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-30
ORIGIN OF cLEmsoN's FIRE.
Brandy Peaches and Alcohol the Indirect
Caase-Though the Water WORKS Sent q
Streasn 20 the Third Floor the Pres
Bure was not Safdclent TO Reach
.s;S the Roof.
Especial to News and Courier.

Especial to News and Courier.l
FosE HILL, May 24.-There are two
or three theories afoat as 10 the origin
Of the FIRE at Clemson College on the
morning OF the 23d. The one most
generally accepted as correct is this:
When the furniture and specimens
from the old agricultural department
in Columbia were removed to Clemson
there were number Of specimens Of
fruit put up in brandy and alcohol. 1t
has been noticed for some weeks past
and brought to the attention Of the
faculty that these jars Of liquor were
being tasnpered with. They were
stored in the large room used as a mu-
scum OF the third floor. It is now
thought that some person went to this
room to steal the liquor and in some
way started the fire.
One Of the men first on the scene
says that space abont ten feet square
was burning when he arrived. The
hose wgs carried in, and as soon as the
wster was thrown on the jars filled
with alcohol they burst, libersting the
liquor, which ignited and sent blaze
up TO the roof. This is said to have
been the critical moment, for the hose
woEia not throw water to the roof, and
It consequently caught fire. The
hoiiding 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 floor Of the second
story of the main building. The pipe
is said 10 have had about sixty-feet of
water at the beginning Of the fire.
Owing to the long line Of mains through
which water has to come or TO some
other cause not satisfactorily explained,
the pressure did not come up to expecta-
ton. The mains are s arranged that
water can be pumped>direet from the
tank without going through stand pipes;
this was done as long as the water
lasted, but the tank was exhausted and
consequently the engine became use
less.
a large part of the Western wall fell
yesterday afternoon. The debris is
still smoking at this W: .ting (l1 a. M
a strong detail of c&ders has watched
the smoking ruins e. n night since the
fire, and sentinefs v Z post during the
day to prevent Gao. and citizens
alike from venturing toonsart the cracz-
ing walls.
College exercises were resumed
esterday. There is great dissatifac-
ton amongst the cadets at the present
condition of things. They say that the
facilities for carrying on the classes are
too limited and they do not think
Z much good is 10 be gair-d by staying.
A petition to be presented to the board
meeting tomorrow 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 tc
close the College for the present and
giye vacation now instead Of next
winter. Thirty odd boys left yesterday
and to-day.
All the apparatus in the physical
laboratory prof. Weleh] was saved.
including German air pump, said to
be the first in the South. A lot OF
valuable charts and maps in Prof. Nor.
rison's room were lost. The prosesso,
had a valuable private library in bis
room, 8 large part of which was lost,
Most OF the books in the College
library were saved by the prompt
exertions of Cadet Librarian D. L.
Smith anG MS assistants.
Prof. Furman lost some books and
s maps of value. Everything in the
Presidents room was saved, also the
new and handsome carpets belonging
respectively to the Calhoun and Pal
metto debating societies.
OUT OF ITS ASHE.-BIDs CALLED FOR
10 RESTORE THE MAIN BUILDING.
Especial to The RegisSer.]
CALHOUN. s. c., May 26.-superin.
tendent Thompson of Rock Hill and
Mr.. Bruce of Atlanta, have been here
and in consultation with the Board o.
Trustees all day. After carefully con.
sidering all the material questions
connected with the work Of restoring
the main structure and looking into the
finances available and to become avail.
able for this purpose, the Board de-
cided to advertise at once for bids t.
rebuild the main building, bids to bt
submitted not later than June 9th.