The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-06
THE BURNING OF CLEMSON.
The New Building TO be Grander than tho
old-No One Knows How the Fire
Starsed-An Interesting Ac-
count OF fhe Burning.

CLEMSON COLLEGE, S. c., May 2S.-
In the editors comments on the tele-
gram T sent last Tuesday the regret Is
expressed that did not give details as
fully as was desired, concerning the
burning of the main building of Glenn
son College. For that reason, ahc oe-
cause Of the general interest taken in
our misfortune, have deemed it best
to send communication for this
weeks issue of The Herald and News.
a cadet who happened to be awake
about half-psst four o'clock on the
morningof the 26th instant saw light
in the nnuseum-something quite un-
usual. His attention being attracted,
he soon decided al to its dangerous
character, ard imn sdistely reported
his discovery to Hajoi Blythe who
sleeps 10 barracks. The slarm was inn
mediately given, and wy soon most
of the cadets were on eSe grounds
ready to render whatever assistance
was in their power. Major Blythe
and several cadets connected some
hose to hydrant and as soon as posi-
BILE were on the third hoor ready to op-
pose the progress of the flames. Water
came promptly and soon the burning
material on the floor was practically
harmless. The nezzle was then turned
to the ceiling where suaall patch of
flame was gradually gaining headway,
when the. water failed. This was the
critical moment. Before 3 sufficient
stream of water could be obtained the
building was doomed. Every one then
turned to saving the library, the phys
ical apparatus, Office furniture and the
like. And when this was done, al!
hands stood, and with sad hearts,
watched the destruction of magnin-
cent building, and the hope of many
of our people.
AS soon as breakfast could be take J.,
al; of us assembled in the chapel, when
the President of the Board and the
President of the College made short
talks, urging the cadets to be dutiful
and hopeful, and assuring them that
work would begin again "Wednesday
morning.
The faculty met Immediately after
wards, and during the day found a suf.
ficient number of rooms for the differ
ent departments, and the essential
work of the college is moving along
quite smoothly.
The Beard of Trustees met the fol-
lowing Friday night and adjourned
late Saturday afternoon. They decided
to begin at once the rebuilding Of the
main structure. Mr.. Bruce, of Allan
ta, the architect who designed the first
building, came over on Thursday and
made an examination of the walls.
and found that much Of TIE old
building is unhurt. The tower is in
sast. The chapel is so little injured
that one can scarcely tell it has ever
been threatened with destruction.
Nearly all the books bought by the
college for the library were saved; but
there was in the library large num-
Der of books and pamphlets sentfro
the Departments at Washington.
Many of them, such as the Smith
sonian Reports. the War Records, &C.,
were very valuable. These are total
loss.
The Department of Physics saved
out of an apparatus worth $1,000 all
but about $500. In the loss was a gas
machine that cost $500. This could
hot be removed in time. None of the
recitation benches and slate black
boards were saved. The latter alone
cost $500, not including cost in putting
them up. The instruments OF the
Weather Bureau, worth several hum
dred dollars, were burned,
It is difficult to state exactly the
original cost Of the main building.
Estimates range from $780, 900 to SIS, 600.
The insurance is $4,000.
It is safe to say that, when the new
building is completed and all parts of
the work of the college have once more
fallen into their lines, every one con-
versant with the facts will admit that
the fire was not an unmixed evil. The
burned building was one that any
board of trustees could be proud of:
but the new building will be 8 great
Improvement On the old.
A hotel TO contain twenty rooms
will be built at once, and used tempo
rarily for lecture rooms. A hydrant is
to be placed within reach Of every res
idence as well'as public building. DR..
Sloan is made chief of the fire depart
raent and ordered to organize and train
the cadets for fighting the fire fend
when he next appears.
About fifty cadets have gone home
since the fire. A few more will leave
but the large majority will continue
faithful to the college. The patrons o.
the institution may rest assured thai
ss thorough work will be done since
the FIRE as before. If parent intends
to educate his son here, he should le
him remain if he is now in college.
Various theories have been proposed
to account for the origin of the fire
but no one has any direct evidence tt
give. The museum-the Exhibit o
the old South Carolina Department o
Agriculture-was on the third floor o
the b Hiding. There was good dea
of rubbish, in the form of packing ma
terial, that was loose on the floor, ant
SSrafoh spplied IN this womb accom-