New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-28

PARTIAL DE:TRUCTIo' OF THE UNIVER-
SITY OF VIRGINIA
THE MAIN BUILDING CONSUMED AND HEAVY

THE MAIN BUILDING CONSUMED AND HEAVY
loss OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES USED IN VAIN
Charlottesville Va. Oct 27-Fire originated TO-
day In the southwest corner Of the public hall oi
the University Of Virginia and destroyed the
main building OF that institution with some of It's
contents. In the absence Of ar engine, the gray
ity system Of firefghting. having heretofore oeeh
adequate. adopted. 1t was Impossible 10 get
water 10 the flames. and they had IT all their
own way for a while. When II was clear that
the public hall or annex, containing the lecture
rooms of the schools OF common ana statute
law physics and modern languages. could not be
saved. efforts directed toward saving the
rotunda. containing the library and the lec'-
ure-rooms OF the schools Of ancient languages
mathematics. moral philosophy. English etc
These parts Of the building connected by
covered gallery or porch whose roof was sus-
tained partly by imposing columns surmounted
by handsome capitals brought from Italy by JEFF
ferson. In order TO prevent the spread OF the IRE
from the annex to the rotunda an attempt was
made to blow down this connecting porch by the
use Of dynamite The columns were battered
down, but still the porch stood. Dynamite was
repeatedly placed in the porch roof Itself, but
the explosions produced little result, and II was
not long before the rotunda was in lames. Inc
larger part OF the iibrarys contents were re-
moved. including books. paintings ana statuary
From the department of physics much 9i NaIua-
bic equipment was rescued and stored III '"c
museum nearby.
The danger Of the communication OF the hre
to the paviliOus and the dorintoneS was lmh-
nent. These inclose the la vi on the nor'n anu
south and the main building and old chapel ana
reading-rOom close upon the western ehi OF the
lawn vista The old chapel and the readins-
room directly connecting thc main room WIN
the profes .Ors and students rooms, were blown
dynamite
the flames which were then got under o"ntroi
The StauntOn and Lynchburg fire departments
were requested to send fire engines. L\ nchUWS
did so and Stanton sent men and nose Dut
they were too late.
Bucket brigades undoubtedly saved the NEARBY
buildings. The intense dcsire 10 save ne UNI
versty is shown by the fact that women even
took their places in line. The rotunda was
that part Of the building completed In Mr.. Jei-
forsons day. and in which in lS23 reception
was held at which Lafayette and other dis
tinguisiled men assisted. The fnnex was huiit
about Corty years ago.
The loss is heavy. though 1t IS impossible 10
state IT in figures, ncr IS it known jnst what
the insurance amounts t.. though ii IS probably
not more than S2500J The students met To-
restore the building. pledging y cir contingent
dencsit Alumni are telegTaphnG offers or hna -
c.al aid. Lectures will not be interrupted ana
the work Of the session will go or about as
usual
The University of Virginia is the most famous
institution OF its kind In the South The puidings
crowned a hill Charlottesville. overlooking A
wide sweep OF rolling country. Nearby on SIM
liar swell OF land Is Monticello, the home OF Ihomas
Jefferson who was the founder of the University
OF Virginia a statement OF which fact IN accora-
snce with hjs EXPRESSED wish. was carved on MS
tomb All the buildings of the University were
from plans drawn by Jefferson who drew up also
all the statutory enactments relating TO II as well.
as its basis OF organization, code OF government
and plan OF studies The institution was chartereL
in in $50 and Jefferson its first rector II wa
opened in 1894. The university II uhder , o.atG
hstronaee having enjoyed from the nrsi an annual
appropriation OF sl5 900 which in 1919 Vas Was increasFd
ments and endowments since 1863 by w, w, COR
noran Lewis Brooks Leander j. Mco'oTI1'cK, W ~,
Vanderbilt and others amount 10 S4olVo 10 us
- 70 he added estate In remainder left Dy hihu
IL Austin OF Massachusetts. IN lsS4, vaiued a.
sse, oo hasdes eRacies from the Fayerwea ther ana
other estates The library contains 5oVo voIuihtS
the number OF alumni s over l5co, ara there Is d
score or more professors and assistants